ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) levels in diagnosing viral infection. METHODS: 2-5AS, procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels and leukocyte counts were evaluated in 104 febrile patients (26 viral and 55 bacterial infections, 23 non-infectious diseases). RESULTS: Assessment of areas under the receiver-operator characteristic curves revealed that 2-5AS and CRP levels and the age of the patient differentiated between viral and bacterial infections, 2-5AS levels differentiated between viral infection and non-infectious disease and PCT levels differentiated between bacterial infection and non-infectious disease. The decision tree constructed according to the results correctly classified the origin of fever in 88 of 104 patients (85%). CONCLUSIONS: 2-5AS is a useful diagnostic biomarker for viral infections and combining it with the PCT and CRP levels and leukocyte counts improves determination of causes of fever.
