What’s already known about this topic?
Blood gas analysis is important for evaluating prognosis in SIRS and
MOF. Studies have shown that low pH, high lactate, and low
carboxyhemoglobin levels in venous blood gas analysis are important
markers of clinical course and prognosis. In particular, lactate level
is a serum marker frequently used in clinical practice. High serum
lactate is an indicator of tissue hypoperfusion. Lactate is produced by
many tissues of the human body and at high levels in muscle tissue.
Under normal circumstances, lactate is rapidly eliminated by the liver
and partly by the kidneys. Procalcitonin level is believed to increase
mostly in bacterial infections and sepsis as part of the systemic
inflammatory response against infection. It is generally not expected to
increase in response to viral infections. However, it has been suggested
that a major increase in cytokine levels may lead to procalcitonin
elevation.