title: Serum C-reactive protein in asthma and its ability in predicting asthma control, a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in asthma and its association with disease severity has been investigated in many studies. This study aimed to determine serum hs-CRP status in asthma versus healthy controls and to examine its ability in predicting asthma control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum CRP was measured by ELISA method using a high sensitive CRP kit. Severity of asthma was determined using Asthma Control Test. Spearman and chi square tests were used for association and correlation respectively. The predictive ability was determined by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Accuracy was determined by determination of area under the ROC curve (AUC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 120 patients and 115 controls were studied. Median serum hs-CRP in asthma was higher than control (P=0.001. In well controlled asthma the hs-CRP decreased significantly compared with poorly controlled (P=0.024) but still was higher than control (P=0.017). Serum hs-CRP at cutoff level of 1.45 mg/L differentiated the patients and controls with accuracy of 63.5 % (AUC= 0.635±0.037, P=0.001). Serum hs-CRP ≤ 2.15 mg/L predicted well controlled asthma with accuracy of 62.5% (AUC= 0.625±0.056, p=0.025). After adjusting for age, sex, weight and smoking, there was an independent association between serum hs-CRP >1.45 mg/L and asthma by adjusted OR=2.49, p=0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that serum hs-CRP in asthma is higher than healthy control and increases with severity of asthma and decreases with. Thus, serum hs-CRP measurement can be helpful in predicting asthma control and treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firouzjahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Mobility Impairment Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Javadian
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharbatdaran
authors.affiliation: Mobility Impairment Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.; Department of Internal Medicine, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heidari
keywords: Asthma; Asthma control; High sensitive C-reactive protein; Prediction