Abstract
Background: ESR and CRP measurements reflect different aspects of systemic inflammation. Generally, they are either elevated or depressed at the same time. This study was aimed at evaluating the clinical ability of these markers in the early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 (male 39, female 21) patients who tested positive to Acid Alcohol Fast Bacilli (AAFB) were studied. ESR and CRP values were estimated using standard procedures. Results: The mean ESR value among the AAFB positive patients was 53.16 ± 4.92 mm/hr while the CRP value was 0.273 ± 0.035 mg/L. Gender and age were not found to have any influence on the ESR and CRP values. No relationship was found to exist between ESR and CRP (r = 0.17; p = 0.235) and age (r = 0.125; p = 0.388). Conclusion: A moderately elevated ESR and low CRP values exist at the early diagnosis of tuberculosis. There is no correlation between ESR and CRP at the onset of tuberculosis; hence CRP cannot be used as a screening tool for early diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major socio-economic and public health problem in the developing countries as several African countries have reported increased annual incidence rate [1]
No relationship was found to exist between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and Creactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.17; p = 0.235) and age (r = 0.125; p = 0.388)
There is no correlation between ESR and CRP at the onset of tuberculosis; CRP cannot be used as a screening tool for early diagnosis of tuberculosis
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major socio-economic and public health problem in the developing countries as several African countries have reported increased annual incidence rate [1]. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the Creactive protein (CRP) are the two most common laboratory measurements of systemic inflammation in clinical practice. These two tests are often used for the diagnosis and monitoring of a variety of conditions in particular rheumatic disease and in infections [3]. Inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) and 1L-1 stimulate the liver to produce acute phase reactant proteins (fibrinogen, immunoglobulin, haptoglobin, CRP and others) These proteins in particular fibrinogen and immunoglobulin increase the dielectric constant in the blood allowing the erythrocytes to form rouleaux and increasing the velocity of their descent in the tube [4]. There is no correlation between ESR and CRP at the onset of tuberculosis; CRP cannot be used as a screening tool for early diagnosis of tuberculosis
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