Procalcitonin release patterns in a baboon model of trauma and sepsis: Relationship to cytokines and neopterin

Objectives Procalcitonin (PCT) has been described as an early, discriminating marker of bacteria-associated sepsis in patients. However, little is known of its source and actions, in part because no appropriate animal models have been available. We tested the hypothesis that plasma PCT increases during various pathophysiological conditions, such as hemorrhagic shock and sepsis, which differ with regard to the degree of associated endotoxemia. We further hypothesized that in sepsis, PCT would be significantly different in survivors vs. nonsurvivors. Design Prospective, blinded analysis of previously collected plasma of experimental animals. Setting Independent nonprofit research laboratory in a trauma hospital and a contract research institute. Subjects A total of 22 male baboons (17.5–31 kg). Interventions Hemorrhagic-traumatic shock was induced by hemorrhage for up to 3 hrs, reperfusion with shed blood and infusion of cobra venom factor (n = 7). By using a similar experimental setup, severe hyperdynamic sepsis was induced (n = 15) by intravenous infusion of live Escherichia coli (2 × 109 colony-forming units/kg) over 2 hrs, followed by antibiotic therapy (gentamicin 4 mg/kg twice a day). Measurements and Main Results Plasma PCT at baseline was barely detectable, but levels increased significantly (p < .05) to 2 ± 1.8 pg/mL 2 hrs after the start of reperfusion in the shock group, and to 987 ± 230 pg/mL at 4 hrs after E. coli in the sepsis group. Levels were maximal between 6 and 32 hrs and had returned nearly to baseline levels at 72 hrs. Interleukin-6 levels paralleled the course of PCT measurements, whereas a significant increase in neopterin was seen at 24 hrs. PCT levels were approximately three times higher in the sepsis group than in the shock group, corresponding to endotoxin levels (at the end of hemorrhage, 286 ± 144 pg/mL vs. 3576 ± 979 pg/mL at the end of E. coli infusion;p = .003). PCT levels were significantly different at 24 hrs between survivors (2360 ± 620 pg/mL) and nonsurvivors (4776 ± 563 pg/mL) in the sepsis group (p = .032), as were interleukin-6 (1562 ± 267 vs. 4903 ± 608 pg/mL;p = .01) and neopterin/creatinine ratio (0.400 ± 0.038 vs. 0.508 ± 0.037;p = .032). Conclusions PCT is detectable in the baboon as in humans, both in hemorrhagic shock and sepsis. PCT levels are significantly higher in sepsis than in hemorrhage, a finding that is probably related to the differences in endotoxin. The baboon can be used for the study of PCT kinetics in both models; PCT kinetics are clearly different from other markers of sepsis, either IL-6 or neopterin, in both models. There are significant differences between survivors and nonsurvivors in the sepsis model.