Zahid Masood, Muhammed Tayyib, Tahira Tasneem, Muhammad Farooq, Allah Ditta, Naseer Ahmed Chaudhry, Muhammad farooq.
Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein as an early diagnositic marker of postoperative bacterial infection in comparison with routine hematological parameters.
Pak Postgrad Med J Jan ;14(3):125-8.

Associated with tissue injury and infection, an acute phase biological response elicits in the body. It comprises a variety of systemic changes, like muscle catabolism, fever, leucocytosis, an augmented hepatic synthesis of certain proteins and an increase in their plasma concentrations. The most startling increase is in C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A protein. Also elevated but to a lesser degree are haptoglobin complement components, ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen. However, the albumin level decreased. The net result is a change that is reflected in an elevated ESR. However, raised ESR and Leucocytosis do not always indicate an organic lesion in the body. The use of above mentioned parameters in general practice is limited to malignant blood disorders, Lymphadenosis of unclear origin, bone marrow disorders and early diagnosis of mononucleosis etc. C-reactive protein (CRP) even though discovered in 1930 by Tillett and Francis, now a days emerged as a single, rapid and sensitive marker of infection and inflammation. The biological half-life of CRP is not influenced by age, gender, liver or kidney functions, pharmacotherapy, anemia or other functional disorders.

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