Application of C-reactive protein and prealbumin assess the prognosis of patients with community-acquired pneumonia

Objective To study the changes of C-reactive protein(CRP)and prealbumin(PA)levels in patients with community acquired pneumonia(CAP)so as to explore the relation to the severity of disease and its prognosis.Methods CRP and PA levels of 92 patients with CAP were measured on 1st and 7th day.SIRS score and APACHE Ⅱscore were documented.According to the prognosis,patients were divided into a death group and a survival group.Results The levels of CRP and PA on the 1st day showed no significant difference between the death group and the survival group,but SIRS score and APACHE Ⅱscore in the death group were higher than that in the survival group on the 1st and 7th day.The levels of CRP,SIRS score and APACHE Ⅱscore in the death group showed no significant difference between the 1st and 7th day.But the level of PA on the 7th day was much lower than that on the 1st day,The levels of CRP,SIRS score and APACHE Ⅱscore in the survival group on the 7th day were lower than that on the 1st day.The level of PA was increased.Conclusion Persistent high level of CRP and low level of PA indicate unfavourable prognosis.It is important to evaluate the severity of disease and predict prognosis in CAP patients by combined dynamic observation of CRP and PA level.