DIAGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE AND DETERMINATION OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP) IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA

Main Article Content

Jawed Altaf Baig
Junaid Mahmood Alam
Zia ul Islam
Amna Hussain
Sarah Sughra Ashgar
Syed Riaz Mahmood

Abstract

Objective: to study the diagnostic significance and determination of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) at the time of diagnosis and compared it with CRP of healthy controls.

Methodology: This study was conducted from December 2005 to Dec 2009 on 162 adult patients and 30 (males=15, females=15) healthy controls. All microbiological assays were performed according to standardized procedures; whereas CRP was measured in serum samples by an automated turbidimetric method with normal reference of ≤ 5.0 mg/L.

Results: A total of 85 patients (52.46%) had an identifiable etiology with bacterial pathogens as the causative agents, 31 (19.31%) had viral origin, 10 (6.17%) had other bacterial pathogens and 36 patients (22.22%) with negative microbiological findings. Mean serum CRP levels were 101±15.60 mg/L, 84.50±12.60 mg/L,76.50±11.60 mg/L and 90.35±11.50 mg/L, 85.10±10.15 mg/L & 79.10±15.20 mg/L for Klebsiella pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae alone and in combination with other pathogens respectively. Mean serum CRP was 60.45±9.10 mg/L in viral etiology only and 4.10 ± 2.25 mg/L in controls. CRP values were comparable in different etiologic groups of bacterial origin, except Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae groups (P<0.05), whereas highly significant when compared viral etiology, other pathogens (P<0.01) and negative microbiological findings (P<0.001).

Conclusion: In adult patients with CAP and bacterial pneumonic pathogens as the causative agents, serum CRP levels are greater, ranging between 76.50±11.60 to 101±15.60 mg/L and thus seems to predict severity of illness and assisting in deciding the appropriate site of care, whether hospital or home.

Key Words: C-reactive protein (CRP), Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), bacterial pathogens.

 

Article Details

How to Cite
Baig, Jawed Altaf, et al. “DIAGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE AND DETERMINATION OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP) IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA”. KHYBER MEDICAL UNIVERSITY JOURNAL, vol. 5, no. 4, Nov. 2013, pp. 185-9, https://www.kmuj.kmu.edu.pk/article/view/11473.
Section
Original Articles
Author Biographies

Jawed Altaf Baig

Prof

Department of biochemistry

liaqat National Medical college stadium road Karachi

Junaid Mahmood Alam, Department of Biochemistry Laboratory Services, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College

Department of Biochemistry Laboratory Services, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College

Zia ul Islam, Department of Anatomy, Bahria Medical and Dental College, Bahria University, Karachi

Department of Anatomy, Bahria Medical and Dental College, Bahria University, Karachi

Amna Hussain, Department of Biochemistry liaqat National Medical college stadium road Karachi

Department of Biochemistry liaqat National Medical college stadium road Karach

Sarah Sughra Ashgar

Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Science Institute [BMSI], JPMC, Karachi

Syed Riaz Mahmood, Department of Pathology, Govt Lyari General Hospital, Karachi.

Department of Pathology, Govt Lyari General Hospital, Karachi.

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