Change in C-Reactive Protein Level with Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis
C-Reactive Protein Level with Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy in Pulmonary Tuberculosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v7i5.3665Keywords:
Pulmonary Tuberculosis, C-Reactive Protein Levels, Anti-tuberculosis Therapy, Inflammatory BiomarkersAbstract
Pulmonary tuberculosis is a widespread disease with high mortality and morbidity rates in developing countries, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, there is limited information on how serum CRP levels relate to the severity of pulmonary tuberculosis. Objective: To determine the mean change in C-reactive protein with anti-tuberculosis therapy in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of Pulmonology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from August 25, 2020, to February 25, 2021, enrolling 85 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. A blood sample was obtained by using a 5cc disposable syringe under aseptic measures and stored in sterile vials for assessment of CRP level at baseline. Then all patients were given anti-tuberculosis therapy and followed up in OPD for 2 months. Change in CRP level was calculated. The data were analysed statistically by using SPSS version 25.0. A p-value ≤0.05 was taken as significant. Results: 60 (70.6%) were males, while 25 (29.4%) were females. Baseline levels of CPR were 60.15 mg/dl and 17.76mg/dl after 2 months; the mean change in CPR levels was 42.39mg/dl. The average change in CRP levels was 42.39 ± 21.52mg/dL (p-value<0.05). Conclusions: The results of the study showed a significant reduction in mean CRP levels before and after treatment with ATT. The patients with pulmonary tuberculosis had a high level of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), which implies that CRP can be used as an effective biomarker in the assessment of disease activity and treatment response.
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