Abstract :
Introduction: C-reactive protein is a acute phase reactant protein synthesized in the liver and in response
to various stimuli. It is a simple blood test to distinguish between viral and bacterial pneumonia. It is a
cheap and easily available useful adjunctive test to limit the use of antibiotics in patients presenting with
lower respiratory tract manifestations.
Materials and Methods: It is a prospective study of 60 patients admitted with lower respiratory signs
and symptoms in Intensive Care Unit of Mallareddy institute of medical sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Serum CRP level measured by latex agglutination method and other markers of infection like Complete
blood count, Sputum microscopy culture and sensitivity and chest X-ray were done on presentation. CRP
concentration of more than 20mg/l taken as positive. Number of CRP positive patients were correlated
with patients of increased WBC count and positive sputum routine culture and sensitivity and results were
compared using chi -square test.
Result: Total 60 patients were taken for study out of which 38 were male and 22 were female.
Out of which 24(40%) were diagnosed with pneumonia,6(10%) with pulmonary koch’s,7(11.6%) with
acute exacerbation of asthma,11(18.3%) were COPD,4(6%) with congestive cardiac failure, 5(8.3%) with
autoimmune disorder and 3(5%) with interstitial lung disease. Among them 29(48.3%) patients were
found to have CRP value of more than 20mg/dl which is considered as positive, out of these 29 patients,
16(55.17%) were having pneumonia which was confirmed on imaging and sputum culture and sensitivity.
Out of these 29 patients with CRP positive 21(72.4%) were found to have sputum culture and sensitivity
as positive for bacteria in which 4(19%) were diagnosed as autoimmune disorder,2(9%) with bronchial
asthma, 10(47.6%) with pneumonia, 3(14.2%) with COPD, 2(9.5%) with pulmonary Koch’s. Among 29
patients with positive CRP,18(62%) patients have the WBC count of >11,000cells/mm3. Patients with CRP
positivity having positive culture sensitivity{21patients(72.4%)} were started on antibiotic therapy. Out of
total 24 pneumonia cases,10(41.6%) were sputum culture positive as well as CRP positive pneumonia.
As according to the result of our study the patient of pneumonia had higher CRP in comparison with patients
with COPD, bronchial asthma, Congestive cardiac failure, Autoimmune disorders, interstitial lung disease.
Correlation of number of raised CRP positivity, sputum positivity and raised WBC count were statistically
significant with p value of the age and sex distribution of the patients and no significant mortality found. Patients with positive CRP,
positive sputum culture and sensitivity were started on specific antibiotic therapy.
Conclusion: Serum CRP levels is a useful marker for establishing the diagnosis of Community Acquired
Pneumonia in adult patients presenting with lower respiratory tract manifestations. Higher CRP values are
suggestive of severity of the disease which may help in deciding the appropriateness of use of antibiotics
in the line of management.
Keyword :
C Reactive Protein (CRP), Pneumonia, Antibiotic, Autoimmune disorder, Acute respiratory symptoms.