Biomarkers in heart failure: Procalcitonin

Abstract

Several studies have investigated procalcitonin (PCT) in the context of heart failure, both, as a prognostic marker but also as a marker to guide the decision on antibiotic treatment in acute heart failure. This chapter summarizes the current evidence on the value of PCT in the work-up of patients with acute heart failure and presents case reports, an algorithm and caveats to underline the potential use of PCT in this setting.