title: C-reactive protein for rapid diagnosis of infection in leukaemia.
abstract: C-reactive protein, measured in serum from 38 patients with leukaemia, was elevated to at least 100 mg/l at the beginning of 32 of 34 episodes of infection, and subsequently rose above 100 mg/l in all 34. Uninfected patients, whether in leukaemic remission or relapse and whether pyrexial or not, always had levels below 100 mg/l, with four exceptions out of 290 measurements. Estimation of two other acute-phase proteins, alpha 1-antitrypsin and orosomucoid, was not of additional diagnostic value. Serial measurement of C-reactive protein may be important for the early detection of infection in the leukaemic patient with neutropenia.
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications*; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009961:Orosomucoid; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein