Sequential C-reactive protein measurements in patients with serious infections: does it help?

Crit Care. 2012 Jun 18;16(3):130. doi: 10.1186/CC11347.

Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation traditionally used as a complementary tool to support the clinical diagnosis and as a marker of severity of disease. CRP is an acute-phase protein synthesized by the liver after stimulus by cytokines and its serum levels increase markedly within hours after the onset of infection, inflammation or tissue injury. Dynamic serial measurement of CRP has been widely used to help therapeutic decision-making. Decreasing plasma concentrations of this biomarker have been used as an indicator for resolution of infection or sepsis.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections / blood*
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Monitoring, Physiologic*
  • Prognosis
  • Sepsis / blood*
  • Sepsis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • C-Reactive Protein