Procalcitonin as a biomarker of good prognosis for patients in exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Procalcitonin as a biomarker of good prognosis for patients in exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51473/rcmos.v1i1.2026.2046Keywords:
Pulmonary disease; Procalcitonin; Antibiotic resistance; Medicine.Abstract
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a pulmonary condition characterized by persistent airflow limitation, usually associated with smoking, resulting from an abnormal inflammatory response of the airways to the inhalation of harmful particles. COPD exacerbations consist of episodes of acute respiratory symptoms and are associated with increased hospitalizations, deterioration of functional capacity, increased mortality, and reduced quality of life. In this context, procalcitonin (PCT), a biomarker derived from calcitonin, has been investigated as an auxiliary tool to differentiate between infectious and non-infectious exacerbations, in addition to its potential prognostic value. A bibliographic review was conducted using the PubMed, SciELO, and Cochrane databases, including publications from 2020 to 2025, and using the descriptors “pulmonary disease,” “Antibiotic Resistance,” “Procalcitonin,” and “Medicine.” The analyzed studies demonstrated that antibiotic therapy guided by serum PCT levels is associated with a reduction in both antibiotic use and duration, without compromising clinical outcomes, in addition to a lower incidence of adverse effects and a contribution to combating bacterial resistance. Furthermore, elevated PCT levels were associated with greater exacerbation severity, longer hospital stays, and worse clinical prognosis. Therefore, it is suggested that PCT represents a relevant biomarker in the management of COPD exacerbations, assisting both therapeutic decision-making and prognostic assessment, and promoting safer and more individualized patient care.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Gabriela Theodoro Tórtola, Eloisa Maria Gatti Regueiro (Autor)
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