The concentration of serum C-reactive protein in asthmatic children during acute attack and its clinical significance

Objective To detect the concentrations of serum C-reactive protein(CRP)in children during acute asthma attack for investigating its clinical significance.Methods Serum CRP and IgE were detected in 182 asthmatic children in acute phase and 50 healthy children.The asthmatic children were divided into allergen-induced group,viral infection-induced group,bacterial infection-induced group.Allergen specific IgE(sIgE)were detected in asthmatic children.The serum CRPs were compared among subgroups of asthmatic children and healthy children.The relationship of CRP,IgE and sIgE was analyzed.Results The bacterial infection-induced group had the highest serum CRP(19.55 ± 17.61 mg/L),followed by allergen-induced group 5.45 ± 4.32 mg/L and viral infection-induced group(8.61 ± 8.03 mg/L).All of them had a significantly higher serum CRP than healthy children(1.61 ± 1.25)mg/L(P 0.001).The serum CRP concentration range of healthy group,allergen-induced group,viral infection-induced group and bacterial infection-induced group were 0 ～ 2 mg/L,2 ～ 10 mg/L,5 ～ 16 mg/L,≥ 16 mg/L respectively.If the serum CRP level ≥ 16 mg/L,bacterial infection should be highly suspected.No relationship was observed between serum CRP,IgE and sIgE.Conclusions The concentrations of serum CRP are generally at 2 ～ 10 mg/L,5 ～ 16 mg/L in allergy induced and viral infection-induced asthmatic children.When the acute asthmatic children had a serum CRP level ≥ 16 mg/L,probably had been induced by bacterial infection and combined pneumonia.