title: Prognostic value of 'C' reactive protein in tuberculosis.
abstract: 'C' reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined in 100 cases of tuberculosis and 30 age and sex matched children. Serial estimations, one and 3 to 6 months after initiation of therapy was done in 81 and 41 of these patients, respectively. Mean initial levels of CRP in tuberculosis group was 18.52 micrograms/ml while in the control group it was 2.77 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.001). The elevated CRP levels fell significantly to 5.93 micrograms/ml after one month of treatment (p less than 0.001) and by 3 to 6 months of treatment had fallen to normal values. The fall in CRP levels correlated with clinical response. It is concluded that CRP can serve as a sensitive indicator of activity of the disease and the return to normal values of initially elevated CRP levels may indicate a good therapeutic response.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bajaj
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rattan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein