Assessment of serum level of CRP as an indicator of disease activity in pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant whose levels rise in response to interleukin(IL) 6-mediated pyogenic infections such as active TB. The present study was conducted to assess the serum level of CRP as an indicator of disease activity in pulmonary tuberculosis. Materials & Methods: 64 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis of both genders were enrolled. 2 ml blood was withdrawn from the patient and was sent was quantitative analysis to assess the CRP level. Results: There were 54% newly detected cases of pulmonary TB,20% undergoing anti-tubercular treatment, 12% cured cases, 10% treatment defaulters and 4% treatment resistant. The mean CRP level (mg/dl) in the newly detected TB patients was found to be 52.4. Those undergoing anti-tubercular treatment had a mean CRP value of 42.4. CRP in patients who had completed their treatment were 4.5. Defaulters had a mean CRP of 65.3 and the treatment resistant had a mean CRP of 85.4. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).Conclusion: CRP levels are raised in tuberculosis and fall and attain normal values by the end of treatment.