Abstract

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a novel marker of the acute-phase inflammatory response, belonging to the PTX protein family. It also plays a role in innate immunity. It is known to be produced at the site of infection or inflammation by macrophages, monocytes, denditic cells and tissue cells. Increased levels of PTX3 in the circulating blood have been found to be involved in many pathologies such as coronary artery, respiratory system, renal, hematological, neurological and inflammatory diseases. In this review, we aimed to clarify the biochemical structure of PTX3 and reveal its etiological and diagnostic importance in diseases frequently seen in the Emergency Department.