title: Clinical value of C-reactive protein measurements in HIV-positive patients.
abstract: The acute-phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker of inflammation and tissue damage. We measured CRP in 109 HIV-1 antibody-positive patients admitted to hospital for investigation. In 67 patients with intercurrent infection (of whom 27 were afebrile at presentation) CRP levels were 2.2-483.5 mg/dL (normal value in the general population <3 mg/dL) and in 42 patients with alternative non-infection diagnoses CRP levels were 0.5-108.6 (median=5.9) mg/dL. Whereas in those with infections elevated CRP levels fell in response to specific therapy, values remained abnormal in those with non-infection diagnoses. CRP appears useful for diagnosis and monitoring of intercurrent infection in HIV-1 antibody-positive patients. In HIV-1 antibody-positive patients without intercurrent infection, CRP values higher than in the general population possibly reflect a sustained acute-phase response as a consequence of HIV infection per se.
authors.affiliation: Patrick Manson Unit, University College London Hospitals Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mahdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noursadeghi
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein