title: Role of the C-reactive protein for the diagnosis of TB among military personnel in South Korea.
abstract: Clinicians are frequently faced with the task of differentiating between pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and pneumonia. We evaluated the role of the C-reactive protein test (CRP) for differentiating between TB and pneumonia among military personnel in South Korea. Only immunocompetent males were eligible. Forty-six patients with PTB and 67 with pneumonia were enrolled prospectively. Median CRP concentration was lower in patients with TB than in patients with non-tuberculous pneumonia (3.2 mg/dl [range 0.1-15.7 mg/dl] vs. 8.3 mg/dl [range 0.2-33.7 mg/dl], P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity for TB of a low CRP concentration (< 11.2 mg/dl) in serum was 93.3% and 40.9%, respectively. CRP concentration measurement might be useful for eliminating the diagnosis of TB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Jeung
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein