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.