C-Reactive Protein and Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase as Diagnostic Parameters in Acute Appendicitis

Abstract

Background Acute appendicitis is the most common disease requiring urgent surgical attention. Accurate diagnosis of acute appendicitis is based on careful history physical examination laboratory and imaging investigation. Hence this study was done to determine the laboratory values of C-reactive protein CRP and serum lactate dehydrogenase LDH in clinically diagnosed acute appendicitis.Methodology This cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Surgery for a duration of 18 months from December 2019 to June 2021. All the patients with acute appendicitis attending the OPD of Department of Surgery were included. Demographic data such as age gender residence occupation date of admission history of present illness were noted. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made based on clinical signs and symptoms. Patients were subjected to routine investigations such as CBC RBS blood grouping CRP levels and serum LDH levels USG of abdomen and pelvis.Results Hundred and ten patients with acute appendicitis were included. Age distribution was from 12 years to 52 years. Majority were noted among 12 ndash 22 years constituting 61.82 of the sample with a mean age years plusmn SD of 23.87plusmn6.79 years. MaleFemale ratio was 1.71. The sensitivity and specificity of C-reactive protein was 99.07 and 50 with negative and positive predictive values of 50 and 99.07 respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of serum LDH was 98.04 and 100 with negative and positive predictive values of 80 and 98.18 respectively.Conclusion CRP can lead to precise prediction of severity of acute appendicitis for the treatment. The inflammatory markers i.e. CRP and LDH can be helpful in the diagnosis when measured together as this increases their specificity and positive predictive value.