BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely used inflammatory marker. Yet, the clinical significance and outcome of extremely elevated CRP levels are poorly characterized. METHODS: We collected all patients seen at a university hospital in 2004 with at least one CRP level above 500 mg/l and retrospectively analyzed their electronic files, focusing on patient characteristics, clinical diagnosis, microbiology and vital outcome. RESULTS: CRP was above 500 mg/l in 130 patients with a median age of 62 years. Patient characteristics, settings, etiologies of inflammation, comorbidities and microbiology varied widely. Infections, mainly bacterial, accounted for 88% of episodes. Outcome was fatal in 36% of all patients and in 61% of patients with active malignancies. CONCLUSION: A wide variety of infections, especially bacterial, that are generally readily identified account for the majority of instances of extreme CRP elevation. Mortality is high, certainly in oncological patients.
BACKGROUND:C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely used inflammatory marker. Yet, the clinical significance and outcome of extremely elevated CRP levels are poorly characterized. METHODS: We collected all patients seen at a university hospital in 2004 with at least one CRP level above 500 mg/l and retrospectively analyzed their electronic files, focusing on patient characteristics, clinical diagnosis, microbiology and vital outcome. RESULTS:CRP was above 500 mg/l in 130 patients with a median age of 62 years. Patient characteristics, settings, etiologies of inflammation, comorbidities and microbiology varied widely. Infections, mainly bacterial, accounted for 88% of episodes. Outcome was fatal in 36% of all patients and in 61% of patients with active malignancies. CONCLUSION: A wide variety of infections, especially bacterial, that are generally readily identified account for the majority of instances of extreme CRP elevation. Mortality is high, certainly in oncological patients.
Authors: Laura Samuel; Sarah L Szanton; Neal S Fedarko; Eleanor M Simonsick Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 2020-07-14 Impact factor: 3.710
Authors: Christina R Evans; D Leann Long; George Howard; Leslie A McClure; Neil A Zakai; Nancy S Jenny; Brett M Kissela; Monika M Safford; Virginia J Howard; Mary Cushman Journal: Am Heart J Date: 2019-08-12 Impact factor: 4.749
Authors: Laken C Roberts Lavigne; Jing Tian; Melissa Hladek; Sarah E LaFave; Sarah L Szanton; Laura J Samuel Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2021-10-13 Impact factor: 6.591