Serial serum C-reactive protein to monitor recovery from acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in children.

Abstract

Serial C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate determinations were compared with clinical course and outcome at 1 to 2 months in 63 children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. High CRP values (163 +/- 108 mg/liter) on admission began to descend after the second day of treatment. From the fourth day on higher (P = 0.03 to P = 0.0001) CRP values distinguished a complicated from an uneventful course of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis and the patients symptomatic at follow-up (P = 0.003 to P = 0.0001) from asymptomatic ones. Children who developed extensive radiographic changes had elevated CRP values for a longer time (32 +/- 13 days) than children with typical changes (11 +/- 6 days, P = 0.0001). Erythrocyte sedimentation rates did not identify the type of clinical course but higher values on Days 4 to 7 distinguished children symptomatic at follow-up (P = 0.02) from asymptomatic ones. Monitoring serial CRP values can alert the physician to complications and predict outcome earlier than clinical signs or roentgenograms.

• Authors: I Roine, I Faingezicht, A Arguedas, J F Herrera, F Rodríguez
• Journal: The Pediatric infectious disease journal (Pediatr Infect Dis J) Vol. 14 Issue 1 Pg. 40-4 (Jan 1995) ISSN: 0891-3668 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7715988 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• C-Reactive Protein

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Blood Sedimentation
• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Haemophilus influenzae
• Humans
• Osteomyelitis (blood, diagnostic imaging, metabolism, microbiology)
• Radiography
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus pyogenes