The clinical usefulness of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and C-reactive protein tests in the diagnosis of acute bacterial infections

Abstract

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) andα1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) levels, peripheral blood leukocyte counts, band/neutrophil ratio, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and bacterial culture were performed in this study with the purpose of evaluating the usefulness of each laboratory test in the diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections. Fourty pediatric patients were divided into three groups by Philip and Squire's criteria. These 40 children were categorized as follows: 15 had bacterial infections, 19 had viral infections and 6 had diseases of non-infectious nature. The sensitivity and specificity of each of the above tests among the 3 groups was calculated, and revealed that only CRP, AAG levels and bacterial culture showed more than 50% occurrence in sensitivity and specificity. In particular the CRP and AAG were very sensitive and specific. Thus, with the combined use of CRP and AAG tests, a reliable source of early diagnosis and accurate evaluation of treatment of acute bacterial infection in children may be obtained.