PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Pavlina Nikolova
AU  - Yavor Ivanov
AU  - Nikolay Yanev
AU  - Plamen Pavlov
AU  - Nikolay Kyuchukov
AU  - Tsanya Popova
TI  - C-reactive protein in community acquired pneumonia - Correlation with main clinical indices
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P2472
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2472.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2472.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has a significant role as a factor, correlating with main clinical indices of the community acquired pneumonia (CAP).Aim: To evaluate the relationship between CRP-levels and main clinical signs of CAP – severity, length of stay, complications, outcome.Methods: Prospective study for 1 year period. 50 patients with CAP severity CURB 65 score 2-5, treated in Pulmonary Clinic were enrolled. 17 of them were women and 33 (60%) – men, average age 54,4 ± 14,6 y. Serum levels of CRP were tested at 1-st and 7-th day of hospital stay. Clinical indices such as concomitant diseases, length of stay, complications, antibiotic prescriptions, outcome have been studied.Results: At admission the levels of CRP were increased up to 434 mg/dl, mean value 83,41 mg/dl (normal range 0-5mg/dl). Most of the patients (54%) had score 3 concerning CURB65, followed by 2 – 24% and 4 – 20%. 62% of them have had concomitant diseases, mainly cardiovascular – in 44% of the cases. The most frequent used antibiotic was ceftriaxone – in 92% of cases. 72% of the patients were treated with two antibiotics, 12% - with three. The duration of antibiotic treatment was average 7,26±1,69 d (from 5 to 12 days). The length of stay was 8,4 d (from 7 to 12 days). Significant relationship was established between CRP and: severity of CAP (CURB65) p<0,05, r=0,38; the duration of intravenous antibiotic treatment p<0,05, r=0,32; antibiotic prescription at leaving hospital day p<0,05; r=0,39; complications; length of stay p<0,05; r=0,30; outcome p<0,05; r=0,50.Conclusion: CRP is a sensitive and reliable factor, correlating with the severity of CAP, length of stay and outcome.