Biomarker level and severity of illness measures in patients with systemic inflammation (N = 19) according to PCT time points.

Time points were the day before the PCT peak (PCTbefore), the day of the PCT peak (PCTpeak) and again lowered PCT (PCTlow).*P value for comparison of survivors vs. non-survivors. Systemic inflammation was defined as new onset of systemic inflammatory response syndrome plus a two-fold increase in PCT concentration compared to the value of the preceding day or exceeding a minimum of >2 ng/ml. ASM: acid sphingomyelinase serum activity, CRP: C-reactive protein concentration, mSOFA: modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score (excluding central nervous system); PCT: procalcitonin; SAPS II: Simplified Acute and Physiology Score II; TISS: Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System.Biomarker level and severity of illness measures in patients with systemic inflammation (N = 19) according to PCT time points.