title: [C-reactive protein: should it be determined in inflammatory rheumatic diseases?].
abstract: The structure, synthesis and possible functions of C-reactive protein (CRP) are discussed. CRP is a highly sensitive but non-specific indicator of tissue damage, but its diagnostic value in inflammatory rheumatic diseases is very limited. In SLE, a high level may suggest additional bacterial infection. While semiquantitative methods are of little help, the quantitative measurement of CRP can be used as both a clinical and a therapeutic parameter in patients in whom ESR does not parallel the inflammatory activity of the disease. Apart from these exceptions, CRP does not appear to offer major advantages over ESR in the day-to-day management of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
mesh_terms: D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
vernacular_title: Das C-reaktive Protein. Soll man es bei entzündlichen rheumatischen Krankheiten bestimmen?