NIDCC

Currant Issue | Past Isshue

number (2) - volume (3) ( 01 - July - 2009 )

Evaluation of C-reactive protein as a diagnostic tool in the detection of infection in patients with malignancy and pyrexia.

Background: Early diagnosis and treatment of infections is critical in the care of immunodeficient patients. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant, which increases a few hours after infections and used as a marker for detection of concurrent infection and antibiotic response. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the value of CRP as a screening test for the early detection of inter-current infection among patients with malignancy and to ascertain whether there was any difference in the response in those patients in whom an infection could be bacteriologically proven, clinically suggested or disease related. Materials and Methods: Patients with a wide range of malignancy and a significant pyrexial episode were admitted to this study during (2006) from haematology oncology unit at El-Fatah Childern hospital. Quantitative CRP levels using the latex slide agglutination test were serially estimated and proved to be useful in following the course of the illness. Results and conclusion: Patients with malignancy in whom disease activity was thought to be responsible for the pyrexia had significantly lower C-reactive protein levels compared with those patients who had a septicaemic illness. Therefore CRP is a very early and sensitive response to microbial infections and the availability of a rapid and precise assay method strengthens its potential importance in clinical practice.
Writer: Amina M. Beayou, Amina. S. Abusedra and Fatma. I. Najam.

Home | Search | Contact