C-reactive protein as a predictor of relapse in asymptomatic patients with Crohn's disease.
Comparison of the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) with serum levels of the acute phase proteins during a 4-year study period of 50 patients with Crohn's disease has shown the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) to be a sensitive indicator of clinical status. Five patients are described in whom raised CRP levels reliably predicted relapse at a time when the patients were asymptomatic and the CDAI was normal. Measurement of serum CRP by radial immunodiffusion is cheap and simple, and if performed frequently in the follow-up of patients with Crohn's disease it may permit earlier, and therefore possibly more effective, treatment of relapse.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence
D002097:C-Reactive Protein