title: Diagnostic value of C-reactive protein in acute appendicitis.
abstract: Serum C-reactive protein was measured in 56 patients hospitalized with a suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Based on these determinations, four groups of patients were defined: Group A = 26 patients with acute appendicitis who had a C-reactive protein level higher than 2.5 mg/dl. Group B = 4 patients with a C-reactive protein level lower than 2.5 mg/dl who, after surgery based on a presumed diagnosis of acute appendicitis, were found to have a normal appendix. Group C = 22 patients with nonspecific abdominal pain, 18 (72 percent) of whom had an elevated C-reactive protein level, although in only 4 (7.1 percent) were these levels higher than 2.5 percent mg/dl. Group D = 4 patients who had diseases other than acute appendicitis. It is concluded that an increase in C-reactive protein levels to more than 2.5 mg/dl is not a definite indicator of acute appendicitis. However, if the C-reactive protein level in blood drawn 12 hours after the onset of symptoms is less than 2.5 mg/dl, acute appendicitis can be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, New York.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Albu
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lakhanpal
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Gerst
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005734:Gangrene; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein