Serum C-reactive protein levels in the management of infection in acute leukaemia.
C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured serially in 29 patients with acute leukaemia. Sixty-four febrile episodes (greater than or equal to 38 degrees C) occurred during 37 periods of neutropenia (less than 0.5 X 10(9)/l). In all of 41 microbiologically or clinically documented infections the maximum CRP level exceeded 30 mg/l, and in 25 it was greater than 100 mg/l. In no case in which the CRP level remained below 30 mg/l for 48 hr after the onset of fever was any clinical or microbiological evidence of infection obtained. The CRP level during documented infection began to fall 24-48 hr after appropriate treatment was begun. A CRP level above 30 mg/l in neutropenic patients was associated with early recurrence of fever if systemic antibiotics were discontinued. Graft-vs-host disease, without infection, did not result in high levels of CRP.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000097:blood; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D007938:Leukemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications
D002097:C-Reactive Protein