title: Early-mid treatment C-reactive protein level is a prognostic factor in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the light of an emerging role for early-mid treatment 18 F-deoxyfluoroglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) as an important prognostic indicator in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) , we attempted to determine whether a simple parameter, such as the early-mid treatment CRP (C-reactive protein) level, could also be utilized as a significant prognostic factor in aggressive NHL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum CRP levels were monitored in 55 patients with aggressive NHL. The lowest value of the early mid-term CRP levels recorded was compared with the interim PET-CT results, as well as with the clinical course and eventual outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During chemotherapy, the lowest value of early-mid treatment CRP levels significantly predicted the results of the interim FDG-PET (P = 0.04 with an odds ratio of 1.13). Patients who did not achieve an early-mid treatment CRP level of <5 mg/L, had a shorter time to disease progression or relapse (P = 0.001) as well as a reduced overall survival (OS) (P = 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The early-mid treatment serum CRP level is a prognostic factor in aggressive NHL. Patients who do not achieve an early-mid treatment level of <5 mg/L have quicker disease progression or earlier relapse and also appear to have an inferior OS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. herishanu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yair
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Herishanu
authors.forename: Chava
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braunstein
authors.forename: Ur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Metser
authors.forename: Odelia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goor
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rogowski
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berliner
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polliack
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Naparstek
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein