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The Importance Of Serum Procalcitonin Levels In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations, Cantürk Taşçi, Arzu Balkan, Nuri̇ Karadurmuş, Satilmiş İnal, Seli̇m Kiliç, Meti̇n Özkan, Hayati̇ Bi̇lgi̇ç, Kudret Eki̇z

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable, but progressive disease and hospital admissions of patients with COPD are frequently due to acute exacerbations. Acute phase reactants are capable of demonstrating the inflammation; however, they cannot be employed to make a difference between bacterial and nonbacterial causes of the inflammation. Recently, measurement of procalcitonin (PCT) levels appears to be useful in order to minimize this problem. The aim of this study was to examine whether the treatment arrangements based on serum PCT levels in patients presenting with COPD acute exacerbations will be appropriate or not. Materials and …