OBJECTIVE: C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increase during peritonitis. Little is known about the extent and duration of CRP elevation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients on continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) therapy had a baseline CRP value at the start of the study. CRP values were determined at 48 h, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after an episode of peritonitis developed in the 13 months after the study started. RESULTS: The demographic values and comorbid diseases of the patients developing and not developing peritonitis were not significantly different. Patients who developed peritonitis had a mean +/- SD CRP value of 15.0 +/- 11.1 mg/L compared with 15.7 +/- 9.9 mg/L in patients without peritonitis. The CRP value rose to 118.35 +/- 96.86 mg/L at 48 h, and decreased to 34.5 +/- 43.6 mg/L at 2 weeks and to 30.1 +/- 39.7 mg/L at 4 weeks after the onset of peritonitis. All types of peritonitis were associated with a significant increase in CRP at 48 h. Nine patients had CRP elevations above baseline at 4 weeks; seven patients had active medical issues. CONCLUSION: CRP values become significantly elevated during peritonitis. Most patients have a decrease in the CRP values toward baseline values at 4 weeks following the onset of peritonitis while 20% of patients had continued elevations. The significance of the elevations is unclear. Given the associations of CRP with cardiovascular mortality in both uremic and non-uremic patients and the association of peritonitis with mortality, the role of this inflammatory marker deserves further evaluation.
OBJECTIVE:C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increase during peritonitis. Little is known about the extent and duration of CRP elevation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients on continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) therapy had a baseline CRP value at the start of the study. CRP values were determined at 48 h, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after an episode of peritonitis developed in the 13 months after the study started. RESULTS: The demographic values and comorbid diseases of the patients developing and not developing peritonitis were not significantly different. Patients who developed peritonitis had a mean +/- SD CRP value of 15.0 +/- 11.1 mg/L compared with 15.7 +/- 9.9 mg/L in patients without peritonitis. The CRP value rose to 118.35 +/- 96.86 mg/L at 48 h, and decreased to 34.5 +/- 43.6 mg/L at 2 weeks and to 30.1 +/- 39.7 mg/L at 4 weeks after the onset of peritonitis. All types of peritonitis were associated with a significant increase in CRP at 48 h. Nine patients had CRP elevations above baseline at 4 weeks; seven patients had active medical issues. CONCLUSION:CRP values become significantly elevated during peritonitis. Most patients have a decrease in the CRP values toward baseline values at 4 weeks following the onset of peritonitis while 20% of patients had continued elevations. The significance of the elevations is unclear. Given the associations of CRP with cardiovascular mortality in both uremic and non-uremic patients and the association of peritonitis with mortality, the role of this inflammatory marker deserves further evaluation.