[Correlation of C-reactive protein with activity of Crohn's disease].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in evaluating activity of Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

85 patients with Crohn's disease, 59 males and 26 females, aged 15-69, underwent laboratory examination of CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), albumin, and hemoglobin. Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) was calculated. Endoscopy was conducted to collect samples of colon mucosa to undergo HE staining for pathological examination and immunohistochemical staining for the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB p65 (NF-kB p65). Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the correlation of CRP with ESR, CDAI, endoscopic activity, pathologic activity, hypoalbuminemia, and anemia. The effects of lesion location, clinical severity, and drug were considered.

RESULTS

CRP elevation was correlated with ESR, but not correlated with CDAI, endoscopic activity, pathologic activity, hypoalbuminemia, and anemia. CRP was significantly elevated in active CD (P < 0.01), especially in severe or colonic CD (P < 0.05). CRP rapidly decreased when the CD activity was effectively controlled by drugs (P < 0.01), and was reelevated when disease recurred (P > 0.05). Serum CRP elevation was paralleled with the NF-kappaB p65 level (P = 1.0).

CONCLUSION

More suitable for reflection of the activity of moderate or severe colonic CD, CRP can reflect the effects of drugs in the early stage of CD. The serum CRP elevation is consistent with the NF-kappaB p65 expression in colon tissues.