To evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin to the diagnosis and therapy of pneumonia in the elderly patients

Objective To evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin to the diagnosis and therapy of pneumonia in the elderly patients.Methods 60 elderly patients with pneumonia were divided into low-risk group (n =20),medium-risk group (n =20) and high-risk group (n =20) according to CURB-65 criteria.And another 20 patients with non-infective bronchial disease were as controls (control group).Results Serum pneumonia and C reactive protein levels were higher in pneumonia patients than the control group,and the procalcitonin levels in the patients with medium-risk group and high-risk group were higher than the low-risk group.Conclusions Serum pneumonia plays an important role in the diagnosis and prognosis assessment of pneumonia in the elderly patients.The sensitivity of procalcitonin is better than that of C-reactive protein. Key words: Pneumonia in the elderly patients;  Procalcitonin; C-reactive protein