title: Highly sensitive C-reactive protein levels in Iranian patients with pulmonary complication of sulfur mustard poisoning and its correlation with severity of airway diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that can cause serious pulmonary complications. This study was designed to determine serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and evaluate its correlation with lung function parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to SM poisoning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty consecutive SM patients with stable COPD and a mean age 46.3 +/- 9.18 years were enrolled in this cross sectional study. Thirty healthy men were selected as controls. Lung function parameters were evaluated. Serum hs-CRP by immunoturbidometry assay was measured in both the patients and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the case group, the mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 2.14 +/- 0.76 L (58.98% +/- 17.51% predicted). The mean serum hs-CRP was 9.4 +/- 6.78 SD and 3.9 +/- 1.92 SD mg/L in the cases and controls, respectively, with significant statistical differences (p < .001). There was negative correlation between the serum hs-CRP and FEV1 levels (p = .01). The serum hs-CRP levels were also correlated with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung disease (GOLD) stages (r = .45, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the serum hs-CRP level is increased in SM patients with COPD and may have a direct correlation with disease severity. It may then be used as a marker for the severity of COPD in patients with SM poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Lung disease and tuberculosis research center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Attaran
authors.forename: Shahrzad M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lari
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khajehdaluee
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayatollahi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Towhidi
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asnaashari
authors.forename: Hassan Ghobadi
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Marallu
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazloomi
authors.forename: Mahdi Balali
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000506:poisoning*; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D010808:Physical Examination; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D014728:Veterans
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D009151:Mustard Gas