title: A study of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in bronchial asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relevance of C-reactive protein an acute phase reactant and a sensitive marker of low-grade systemic inflammation in bronchial asthma has not been fully studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the significance of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in atopic and non-atopic asthma using an ultra sensitive assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of hs-CRP of 200 patients with bronchial asthma and 50 non-asthmatic control subjects were measured using a Latex enhanced immunoturbidimetric test. Spirometry with reversibility study, serum immunoglobulin-E (IgE) measurement and skin test for allergy was done in all the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in hs-CRP levels with age in atopic asthmatics but no such association was observed in the non-atopic asthmatics and control subjects. The hs-CRP levels were not influenced by sex in any group. Smokers in all the three groups had a significantly higher hs-CRP levels as compared to non-smokers. Patients with asthma had higher hs-CRP values as compared to controls. Patients with non-allergic asthma had higher mean hs-CRP as compared to atopic asthmatics and control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that there exists a certain degree of low-grade systemic inflammation in addition to the local bronchial inflammation in non-atopic asthmatics. Hence, hs-CRP may be used as a surrogate marker for the airway inflammation in non-atopic asthma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Medicine, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital Mangalore, (Karnataka), India.
authors.forename: Ramesh Chandra
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sahoo
authors.forename: Preetam Rajgopal
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Noushad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: Vishak K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Kausalya R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Sahu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein