ArticleCureus2025
Diagnostic Value of Serum Procalcitonin and Erythrocyte-bound Complement Component 4d (E-C4d) Levels in Differentiating a Flare-up from a Bacterial Infection in Egyptian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background The distinction between bacterial infection and febrile flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has always been a crucial yet difficult step in the management of these patients. Although the presentation looks similar, the treatment is extremely different and increases the burden on health care systems, particularly in low-income countries. Aim of this study This study aimed to investigate the potential value of combining serum procalcitonin (PCT) and erythrocyte-bound Complement Component 4d (E-C4d) measurements in distinguishing infection from disease flare in patients with SLE. Methods Serum levels of these two biomarkers were analyzed in patients with positive aerobic bacterial cultures, patients with flare-up fever showing no signs of infection, and a control group with medical diseases other than SLE. Results The PCT level was found to be high in patients with bacterial infections and is considered a suitable marker to exclude cases of SLE with bacterial infections. Additionally, E-C4d was found to have a positive correlation with SLE flare-ups. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the use of serum PCT and E-C4d simultaneously may help differentiate between lupus flares and bacterial infection. However, this observation needs further validation in larger studies.
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