[Determination of serum acute phase reaction protein in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To study the diagnostic value of determinations of serum acute phase reaction protein, such as complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4), prealbumin (PA) and C-reactive protein (CRP), etc., in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).


METHODS
Serum levels of C3, C4, PA and CRP were determined by turbidimetry in 54 cases of SARS, 20 of other pneumonia and 30 normal persons.


RESULTS
Serum concentrations of C3, C4, CRP and PA were (1.18 +/- 0.42) g/L, (1.15 +/- 0.56) g/L, (10.52 +/- 8.77) mg/L and (107 +/- 54) mg/L in SARS patients, (1.30 +/- 0.46) g/L, (0.57 +/- 0.31) g/L, (0.88 +/- 0.43) mg/L and (291 +/- 76) mg/L in patients with other pneumonia, and (1.11 +/- 0.56) g/L, (0.38 +/- 0.26) g/L, (0.42 +/- 0.26) mg/L and (376 +/- 74) mg/L in normal persons, respectively. Serum level of PA was significantly lower and levels of C4 and CRP significantly in patients with SARS higher than those in patients with other pneumonia and normal persons (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in serum level of C3 between the three groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Determination of serum level of C4, CRP and PA in suspected patients is beneficial to early differential diagnosis for SARS.
Liao
Wei-jiao
WJ
Department of Laboratory Examination, the First Hospital Affiliated of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Li
Yi-min
YM
Chen
Tao
T
He
Wei-qun
WQ
Lin
Yong-ping
YP
Li
Ning
N
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000097:blood*
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D011228:Prealbumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein