title: C-reactive protein can be an early predictor of postoperative complications after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
abstract: The clinical outcomes for postoperative complications (PCs) after gastrectomy depend on early diagnosis and intensive treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) as an early predictor of PCs after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  
  A total of 334 consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer in 2014 were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were obtained preoperatively, and at postoperative days 1 and 4 for the measurement of inflammatory markers (white blood cell, neutrophil, and platelet counts, and CRP). Patients were classified into groups of major and minor/no PCs, which were defined as patients with PCs of more than grade III and those with grade I/II or without PCs, respectively, according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.
  
  
  
  Twenty-five patients developed major PCs. The CRP on postoperative day 4 provided superior diagnostic accuracy in predicting major PCs compared to the other systematic inflammatory markers. Multivariate analysis identified a CRP level of 16.8 mg/dl or greater on postoperative day 4 as a significant predictive factor for major PCs.
  
  
  
  Among the various systemic inflammatory markers, CRP on postoperative day 4 is the most reliable predictor of PCs after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Coordinating Center of Catholic Medical Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Cho Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701, Korea. skygs@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyo Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; Gastrectomy; Gastric cancer; Postoperative complication; Predictor