Procalcitonin Level Elevations with Steroid Use

Clinical Implications of False Elevations

• The American Journal of Kidney Diseases guidelines recommend against unnecessary antibiotic use in the absence of confirmed bacterial infection, as false elevations in PCT may lead to such misuse 1
• In patients with sepsis, PCT levels may guide steroid therapy decisions, but interpretation must account for potential false elevations, as suggested by Critical Care Medicine 2