C-reactive protein and disease activity in children with Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Various markers are used to monitor disease activity in paediatric Crohn's disease (CD). We sought to determine whether C-reactive protein measurement was useful in the assessment of disease activity in children with CD, with comparison to the other markers of disease activity.


METHODS
Details of disease activity, C-reactive protein and inflammatory markers were obtained retrospectively from the records of 100 outpatient visits by 63 children with CD.


RESULTS
The children were 12.6 (+/-3.4) years of age. C-reactive protein values correlated positively with disease activity (P < 0.0001). Children with inactive disease (according to pediatric CD activity index scores) had significantly lower C-reactive protein values compared to children with mild disease (P < 0.001). In addition, C-reactive protein values correlated well with ESR (P < 0.0001). Conclusions C-reactive protein measurements provided useful information in assessing children with CD and correlated well with a validated measure of disease activity.
Tilakaratne
Samantha
S
Department of Gastroenterology, Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia.
Lemberg
Daniel A
DA
Leach
Steven T
ST
Day
Andrew S
AS
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein