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Review Papers | Pediatrics and Child Health | United Kingdom | Volume 12 Issue 10, October 2023
Is Procalcitonin Superior to CRP in Diagnosing Children with Suspected Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis?
Abstract: This systematic review aims to measure the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin in detecting children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. A 6 - year - old boy presented with 4 days history of URTI, fever followed by left lower extremity pain and limping. His medical history is notable for eczema with a significant family history of Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and has been referred to rheumatology by his primary care physician for episodic bone pains over the last 6 months. On examination, he has a fever of 37.8, eczematous excoriation over his shins, is unable to bear weight due to pain, and his joints examination is normal. He is not miserable but not happy as well. You are wondering if this is a case of osteomyelitis that requires urgent managemet, or a case oftransient synovitis/reactive arthritis, or if you are the unlucky one who encountered his first episode of JRA. You remembered that Procalcitonin is used in adults to diagnose osteomyelitis and has been shown to outperform CRP in diagnosis and maximise patient outcomes. You are aware that PCT is very sensitive in detecting paediatric bacterial sepsis and meningitis and wondering whether it detects acute hematogenous osteomylitis.
Keywords: diagnostic test accuracy, osteomyelitis, procalcitonin, sensitivity, septic arthritis, specificity
Edition: Volume 12 Issue 10, October 2023,
Pages: 1191 - 1194