ABSTRACT
In the absence of specific symptomology in children, the early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis is a challenge, particularly during infancy. This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of serum procalcitonin levels in children with acute pyelonephritis. Serum procalcitonin was measured with a rapid, semi-quantitative immune-chromatographic test in 56 children who presented with symptoms of UTI; a level >0.5 ng/mL was considered abnormally elevated. A DMSA scan was done on all cases and the procalcitonin levels were compared with the DMSA study; positive and negative predictive values, [ppv and npv], were determined. The procalcitonin test was positive in 43 of the 49 patients with a positive DMSA scan; p.p.v. of the procalcitonin test was 95.3%; n.p.v was 38.5%. Procalcitonin test may be utilized as a sensitive marker for early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis