title: C-reactive protein, marker for evaluation of systemic inflammatory response in preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determination by a high sensitivity technique of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive marker of inflammation in women with preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy and investigation of the relationship between CRP and the severity of the preeclamptic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 40 women with preeclampsia and 40 control subjects with normal pregnancies in the last trimester of pregnancy. The serum CRP concentration was determined using the universal high sensitivity immunoturbidimetric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum CRP concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in preclampsia (5.69 +/- 1.8 mg/L) compared to normal pregnancy (2.89 +/- 1.2 mg/L). In women with preeclampsia, CRP correlated positively and significantly with diastolic blood pressure, proteinuria and uric acid levels. Maternal CRP values also correlated negatively and significantly with fetal weight at birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that serum CRP is increased in preeclampsia and represents a marker of the severity of the preeclamptic syndrome and of fetal weight at birth. Taking into consideration these observations and the fact that CRP testing is rapid and relatively inexpensive, we recommend the use of this acute phase reagent in clinical practice, in all women with preeclampsia in order to establish the prognosis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Dominic Stanca Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Haţieganu University of Medecine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mihu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Costin
authors.forename: Carmen Mihaela
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mihu
authors.forename: Ligia Daniela
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Blaga
authors.forename: Raluca Bogdana
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Pop
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein