CRP – Part of COVID-19 Management

DiaSys Parameters in COVID-19 Monitoring

C-reactive protein (CRP), a nonspecific inflammatory marker, serves as early inflammation or infection marker. Although CRP normally does not increase considerably in mild viral respiratory infections, a significant increase in CRP values was observed in severely ill patients with COVID-19. This is consistent with observations made during SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemics in 2003 in patients with avian influenza H1N1 and H7N9. [1] One possible reason is the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, which are involved in the defense of the pathogen. Cytokines may cause more severe symptoms and damage to the alveoli, and stimulate production of CRP. [2-4] For this reason, CRP tests are useful in the initial examination of coronavirus patients.

Studies in COVID-19 patients have shown that CRP levels directly correlate with disease severity and progression. A recently published study [5] has shown that low CRP levels are common in patients who do not require oxygen (mean 11 mg/L, interquartile range 1-20 mg/L) compared to patients who became hypoxemic (mean 66 mg/L, interquartile range 48-98 mg/L). Another study [6] focused on predictors for a fatal outcome in COVID-19 cases. In this study, it has been shown that elevated inflammatory markers in blood are good predictors in COVID- 19 patients. A comparison of CRP levels with mortality risk has shown that surviving patients had a mean CRP of ~40 mg/L, whereas patients who died had a mean of 125 mg/L.

For information on DiaSys CRP FS and CRP U-hs, please refer to:

CRP FS
CRP U-hs

References

1. N. Chen u. a., „Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study“, Lancet Lond. Engl., Bd. 395, Nr. 10223, S. 507–513, 15 2020, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30211-7.

2. D. Vasileva und A. Badawi, „C-reactive protein as a biomarker of severe H1N1 influenza“, Inflamm. Res. Off. J. Eur. Histamine Res. Soc. Al, Bd. 68, Nr. 1, S. 39–46, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.1007/s00011-018-1188-x.

3. W. Wu u. a., „A new perspective on C-reactive protein in H7N9 infections“, Int. J. Infect. Dis. IJID Off. Publ. Int. Soc. Infect. Dis., Bd. 44, S. 31–36, März 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.01.009.

4. K.-J. Huang u. a., „An interferon-gamma-related cytokine storm in SARS patients“, J. Med. Virol., Bd. 75, Nr. 2, S. 185–194, Feb. 2005, doi: 10.1002/jmv.20255.

5. B. E. Young u. a., „Epidemiologic Features and Clinical Course of Patients Infected With SARS-CoV-2 in Singapore“, JAMA, März 2020, doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.3204.

6. Q. Ruan, K. Yang, W. Wang, L. Jiang, und J. Song, „Clinical predictors of mortality due to COVID-19 based on an analysis of data of 150 patients from Wuhan, China“, Intensive Care Med., März 2020, doi: 10.1007/s00134-020-05991-x.

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