title: C reactive protein in pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.
abstract: Serum C reactive protein was determined in 30 control subjects, 32 patients with pancreatic cancer, 28 with chronic pancreatitis and 23 with extra-pancreatic diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The aim was to ascertain possible alterations of this index in chronic pancreatic disease and to speculate on some influencing factors. Higher C reactive protein levels were found in pancreatic cancer as compared to controls. Pancreatic cancer patients with systemic metastases had higher levels of this index compared to those with non-metastatic disease. Raised concentrations of C reactive protein were detected in 7/28 subjects with chronic pancreatitis. In this group these higher levels were found in patients in a relapsing phase of the disease; no association was observed with pancreatic pseudocysts. Among all subjects a correlation was found, between C reactive protein and age; patients with abnormal fasting blood glucose levels or increased white blood cell count had higher levels of this protein as compared to the remaining patients. We may conclude that C reactive protein increases in pancreatic cancer, specially in relation to tumour extent; in chronic pancreatitis it reflects the inflammatory status of the gland. While acting in the context of the acute phase response, this test may provide an adjunct in evaluating patients with a chronic pancreatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Di Medicina Interna, Università Degli Studi Di Padova, Italia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Favero
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vianello
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angonese
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meggiato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellinvia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fogar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petrin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein