Serum C-reactive protein levels in the management of infection in acute leukaemia

Ian D. Starke, Frederick C. De Beer, J. Peter Donnelly, Daniel Catovsky, John M. Goldman, David A.G. Galton, Mark B. Pepys

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured serially in 29 patients with acute leukaemia. Sixty-four febrile episodes (≥38°C) occurred during 37 periods of neutropenia (<0.5 × 109/l). In all of 41 microbiologically or clinically documented infections the maximum CRP level exceeded 30 mg/l, and in 25 it was greater than 100 mg/l. In no case in which the CRP level remained below 30 mg/l for 48 hr after the onset of fever was any clinical or microbiological evidence of infection obtained. The CRP level during documented infection began to fall 24-48 hr after appropriate treatment was begun. A CRP level above 30 mg/l in neutropenic patients was associated with early recurrence of fever if systemic antibiotics were discontinued. Graft-vs-host disease, without infection, did not result in high levels of CRP.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)319-325
Number of pages7
JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer and Clinical Oncology
Volume20
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1984

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Accepted 25 August 1983. *Grant support: Medical Research Council Programme Grant G979/51 to MBP; Leukaemia Research Fund support for JPD. IPresent address: Department of Medicine, Guy’s Hospital, London Bridge, London SE1 9RT, U.K. llTo whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology

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