Summary
C-reactive protein levels were measured in sera of 111 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and were compared with erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The patients were divided into six groups according to drug therapy. Comparison between the groups suggests that CRP correlates best with ESR in patients treated with penicillamine and in patients in clinical remission. Patients treated with gold, NSAID or methotrexate have a weaker correlation between the two parameters, while steroid therapy yields the poorest correlation which is not statistically significant. Our data suggest that although CRP is a sensitive index of disease activity, the specific drug taken by the patient must be considered before interpreting the results.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Tillet, W.S., Francis, T. Serological reaction in pneumonia with a non-protein somatic fraction of pneumococcus. J Exp Med 1930, 52, 561.
Mallya, R.K., deBeer, F.C., Berry, H. et al. Correlation of clinical parameters of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis with serum concentration of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. J Rheumatol, 1982, 9, 224–228.
Walsh, L., Davies, P., McConkey, B. Relationship between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum C-reactive protein in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis, 1979, 38, 362–363.
Dorohot, T.I., Niculescu, D., Rusu, G., Ponea, I. Serum and synovial fluid IgG, C3 and CRP levels in rheumatoid arthritis. Arch Roum Pathol Exp Microbiol, 1981, 40, 305–311.
American Rheumatism Association. Diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. 1958 Revision. Ann Rheum Dis, 1959, 18, 49–53.
Pepys, M.B. Aspects of acute phase response. The C-reactive protein system. In: Clinical Aspects of Immunology. Editor: Lachman, P.J., Peters, D.K. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1982, pp. 50–71.
Mallya, R.K., Vergani, D., Tee, D.E.H. et al. Correlation in rheumatoid arthritis of concentration of plasma C3d, serum rheumatoid factor, immune complexes and C-reactive protein with each other and with clinical features of disease activity. Clin Exp Immunol, 1982, 98, 747–753.
Pepys, M.B. Acute phase phenomena. In: The Science and Practice of Clinical Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology. Editor: Cohen, A.S. Grune and Stratton, New York, 1979, 85–88.
Amos, R.S., Crockson, R.A., Crockson, A.P. et al. Rheumatoid arthritis: C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate during initial treatment. Br Med J, 1978, 1, 1396–1397.
McConkey, B., Crockson, R.A., Crockson, A.P., et al. The effects of some anti-inflammatory drugs on the acute phase proteins in rheumatoid arthritis. Q J Med, 1973, 42, 785–791.
Constable, T.J., Crockson, R.A., Crockson, A.P. et al. Drug treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet, 1975, 1, 1176–117.
Dixon, J.S., Bird, H.A., Sitton, N.G., et al. C-reactive protein in the serial assessment of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol, 1984, 13, 39–44.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tishler, M., Caspi, D. & Yaron, M. C-reactive protein levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the impact of therapy. Clin Rheumatol 4, 321–324 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02031616
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02031616