Junaid Mehmood Alam, Syed Riaz Mehmood, Marium Anwer, Nerissa Anwer Adam, Farah Ashraf Ishrat Sultana, Aijaz Ahmed, Maqsood Ali Ansari.
Diagnostic Importance of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Analysis in Tuberculosis Pleural Effusions.
Baqai J Health Sci Jan ;12(2):11-8.

One of the acute-phase biomarkers that have recently been investigated for its clinical utility in tuberculosis pleural effusion is C-reactive protein (CRP) which has already been commonly used as a marker of inflammation and tissue injury. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to analyze the viability of CRP as a diagnostic aid for tuberculosis in lymphocytic pleural effusions. Fifty two (n = 52) patients with lymphocytic pleural effusion with definite diagnosis of a disease condition, were taken into the test group and classified into non-tuberculosis (n=28) group and tuberculosis pleurisy group where sputum culture was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pleural effusion (n=24). CRP in pleural fluid was analyzed by automated turbidimetric immunoassay method as per description of the manufacturer and normal reference value in serum is 5.0 mg/L and that of pleural effusion in control group is = 20.45 mg/L. Twenty four patients (males=19; Female=5) were diagnosed with tuberculosis whereas 9 with pulmonary embolism, 5 with CABG and 14 with benign exudates of para-pneumonic origin. CRP of non tuberculosis effusions were noted to be relatively lower in levels (range 15.30 ± 5.10 to 32.10 ± 9.25 mg/L) as compared to those obtained in tuberculosis effusions (62.50 ± 12.75 mg/L). However, CRP of benign exudates of para-pneumonic origin showed a higher value, 32.10 ± 9.25 mg/L, than other non tuberculosis effusions. The level of significant difference was high with P<0.001 when CRP of tuberculosis pleural effusion was compared with non tuberculosis effusions, whereas with para-pneumonic exudates, the difference was moderately significant, P<0.01. The results clearly indicates a significant role of CRP for diagnostic facilitation of tuberculosis pleural effusion in comparison with non-tuberculosis effusions of para-pneumonic, CABG or pulmonary dysfunctions.

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