Diagnostic Value of C-reactive Protein Measurement in Community Acquired Pneumonia

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of measurement of serum C-reactive protein(CRP) level in patients with community acquired pneumonia(CAP).Methods The CRP level were measured by the gold-labeled antibody in 70 patients with CAP. According to white blood cell count (10 0×10 9/L) , they were divided into two groups(group A,B).another 80 patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection were included as control group(group C).Results The CRP level of group A,B and C were 123 71±56 95mg/L,96 28±45 09mg/L and 11 40±3 71mg/L respectively. The CRP levels of group A and B were significantly higher than that of group C(P0 01). And the CRP level of group A was also elevated as compared with that of group B(P0 01).The WBC count of group A(13 72±4 13×10 9/L)was significantly higher than that of group B(7 17±1 37×10 9/L),P0 01. And the WBC count of group B was not significantly difference with that of group C(6 36±1 61×10 9/L),P0 05.According to diagnostic criteria of the CRP level ≥25mg/L, the WBC count ≥10 0×10 9/L and neutrophil proportion ≥80%, the sensitivities were 100%, 48.6% and 40%, the specificities were 95%, 92 5% and 95% respectively,for CAP diagnosis. The diagnostic sensitivity of the CRP level was significantly higher than that of the WBC count and neutrophil proportion for CAP(P0 01).Conclusion The measurement of CRP level is helpful for diagnosing and evaluating the CRP.