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Evaluation of serial C-reactive protein measurements after surgical treatment of pleural empyema.

AbstractOBJECTIVE:
Serial C-reactive protein measurements have been used to diagnose and monitor the response to therapy in patients with pneumonia and other infectious diseases. Nonetheless, the role of C-reactive protein measurement after surgical treatment for pleural empyema is not well defined. The aim of this study is to describe the behavior of C-reactive protein levels after the surgical treatment of pleural empyema and to correlate this parameter with the patient's prognosis.
METHODS:
We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients with pleural empyema treated by either chest-tube drainage or surgery from January 2006 to December 2008. C-reactive protein levels were recorded preoperatively and 2 and 7 days postoperatively. The clinical outcome was binary: success or failure (mortality or the need for repeated pleural intervention).
RESULTS:
The study group comprised fifty-two patients. The median C-reactive protein values were as follows: 146 mg/L (pre-operative), 134 mg/L (post-operative day 2), and 116 mg/L (post-operative day 7). There was a trend toward a decrease in these values during the first week after surgery, but this difference was only statistically significant on day 7 after surgery. Over the first week after surgery, the C-reactive protein values decreased similarly in both groups (successful and failed treatment). No correlation between the preoperative C-reactive protein level and the clinical outcome was found.
CONCLUSIONS:
We observed that, in contrast to other medical conditions, C-reactive protein levels fall slowly during the first postoperative week in patients who have undergone surgical treatment for pleural empyema. No correlation between the perioperative C-reactive protein level and the clinical outcome was observed.
AuthorsIsrael Lopes Medeiros, Ricardo Mingarini Terra, Esther Mihwa Choi, Paulo Manuel Pego-Fernandes, Fabio Biscegli Jatene
JournalClinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil) (Clinics (Sao Paulo)) Vol. 67 Issue 3 Pg. 243-7 ( 2012) ISSN: 1980-5322 [Electronic] United States
PMID22473405 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Biomarkers
  • C-Reactive Protein
Topics
  • Biomarkers (blood)
  • C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
  • Drainage (methods)
  • Empyema, Pleural (blood, mortality, surgery)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Period
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted (methods)
  • Treatment Outcome

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