OBJECTIVE: To compare serial C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) patients and investigate their application as diagnostic parameters and prognostic predictive factors. METHODS: We carried out retrospective chart review among JRA patients who were followed-up at the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) between 1994 and 2005. RESULTS: Thirty-nine girls and 68 boys were included in this study. At the time of diagnosis, the prevalence of ESR was significantly greater than that of CRP (86.8% vs. 47.2%, p < 0.05). ESR revealed more responsiveness to treatment compared to CRP (SRMs were -0.69 and -0.31, respectively). At the time of diagnosis, high CRP levels (>or= 5mg/dL) correlated with poor therapeutic response, as do positive CRP (> 0.8 mg/dL) and high ESR levels (> 40 mm/h) after treatment for six months. Overall, initial high CRP levels (>or= 5mg/dL) demonstrated the strongest predictive role of failure of the first remission. CONCLUSION: For disease diagnosis, ESR can be a better parameter than CRP but a high initial CRP level can strongly predict treatment failure of the first remission.
OBJECTIVE: To compare serial C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) patients and investigate their application as diagnostic parameters and prognostic predictive factors. METHODS: We carried out retrospective chart review among JRA patients who were followed-up at the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) between 1994 and 2005. RESULTS: Thirty-nine girls and 68 boys were included in this study. At the time of diagnosis, the prevalence of ESR was significantly greater than that of CRP (86.8% vs. 47.2%, p < 0.05). ESR revealed more responsiveness to treatment compared to CRP (SRMs were -0.69 and -0.31, respectively). At the time of diagnosis, high CRP levels (>or= 5mg/dL) correlated with poor therapeutic response, as do positive CRP (> 0.8 mg/dL) and high ESR levels (> 40 mm/h) after treatment for six months. Overall, initial high CRP levels (>or= 5mg/dL) demonstrated the strongest predictive role of failure of the first remission. CONCLUSION: For disease diagnosis, ESR can be a better parameter than CRP but a high initial CRP level can strongly predict treatment failure of the first remission.
Authors: Xuefeng B Ling; Jane L Park; Tanya Carroll; Khoa D Nguyen; Kenneth Lau; Claudia Macaubas; Edward Chen; Tzielan Lee; Christy Sandborg; Diana Milojevic; John T Kanegaye; Susanna Gao; Jane Burns; James Schilling; Elizabeth D Mellins Journal: Proteomics Date: 2010-11-23 Impact factor: 3.984