A CLINICAL STUDY OF CRP AS A PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR IN COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA

DR. G. SWARNA LATHA DEVI; DR. P RAVI CHANDRA VARMA; DR VIOLA RACHEL

Volume : V, Issue : XI, November - 2016

A CLINICAL STUDY OF CRP AS A PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR IN COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA

Dr. G. Swarna Latha Devi, Dr. P Ravi Chandra Varma, Dr Viola Rachel

Abstract :

CRP being a acute inflammatory marker, demonstration of its serial rise in patients with CAP predicts the severity and outcome in these patients . We aim to study CRP levels on the day of admission and day 4, which can predict 30 day mortality, need for mechanical ventilation . This study was done with a objective to find out whether C-reactive protein is an independent predictor of severity in community acquired pneumonia. Material and methods: This is a retrospective study of 50 consecutive patients presented with Community Acquired Pneumonia admitted to ALLURI SITHARANARAJU MEDICAL COLLEGE, ELURU from October 2014 to May 2015. Detailed history was taken. Detailed clinical examination was done. sputum examination and chest x-ray and other relavent investigations done. CRP levels were estimated on admission and day-4 by immunoturbidimetric method. Results: : In this study we observed that community acquired pneumonia is more common in middle aged males. CRP levels are increased in 30% and decreased in 70% patients, on day-4 when compared to the levels on day-1. Worsening of CAP occurred in patients among the group in which CRP had raised on day four compared to patients among the group in which CRP had decreased on day 4. Mean duration of stay, need for mechanical ventilatory support, and mortality was seen higher in the group with raise in day -4 CRP levels. Conclusion: This study concludes that if CRP levels raises on day-4 when compared to day-1, the length of stay in hospital, need for mechanical ventilator support and mortality increases. C-reactive protein is an independent predictor of severity in community acquired pneumonia.