The Clinical Usefulness of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Serum Procalcitonin as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biochemical Markers in Burn Patients Complicated with Sepsis: A Comparative Study

Altameemi, Ali D.; Abolfotouh, Sherine M; Elsherbeny, Khaled M; Saad Eldin, Mohamed O

doi:10.21608/ejprs.2025.405178

The Clinical Usefulness of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Serum Procalcitonin as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biochemical Markers in Burn Patients Complicated with Sepsis: A Comparative Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

The Department of Plastic, Burn and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejprs.2025.405178

Abstract

Background: Burn injuries have become a major global
health problem, with more than 120,000 burn-related deaths
each year.
Aim and Objectives: To compare Neutrophil-lymphocyte
Ratio (NLR) and S. Procalcitonin (PCT) level as a diagnostic
and prognostic parameter in burn patients complicated with
sepsis.
Patients and Methods: This was a prospective cohort
study conducted on 40 patients at burn unit of the Plastic, Burn
and Maxillofacial Surgery Department in Ain Shams University
Hospitals from April to September 2023.
According to the American Burn Association Criteria for
the presence of infection, the patients were allocated into two
groups: Sepsis and non-sepsis. Also, according to the fate of
the patients, they were classified into two groups: Non survivors
and survivors (discharged).
We measured NLR and PCT as markers of infection on
admission, day 3, day 10 and day 20 for all patients and compared
their values in the finding groups.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference
between sepsis and non-sepsis patients as well as between survivors
and non-survivors as regard NLR. There was Statistically
significant increased PCT level on day 3 from admission
and statistically highly significant increase on day 10 with sepsis
patients when compared with non-sepsis patients (p=0.003
and increased PCT level on day 3 and statistically highly significant
increase on day 10 with non-survivor when compared
with survivor patients (p=0.043 and Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that PCT level in major
burn patients is a promising diagnostic biomarker in detecting
sepsis that could facilitate ideal management and initiate
proper antimicrobial therapy and good prognostic value as an
early predictor of mortality. In contrast, higher NLR cannot be
considered as a reliable independent predictor of sepsis.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Burns

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