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Intensive Care Medicine
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine 9/2006

01-09-2006 | Original

C-reactive protein concentrations during bacteraemia: a comparison between patients with and without liver dysfunction

Authors: Iain Mackenzie, Joe Woodhouse

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 9/2006

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the value of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations as a marker of sepsis in patients with biochemical evidence of liver dysfunction.

Design

A retrospective case-control comparison of serum CRP concentrations between patients with and those without liver dysfunction (prothrombin time over 18 s and serum bilirubin ≥ 20 μmol/l) during their first episode of bacteraemia.

Setting

The neurosciences and general adult intensive care units of a university teaching hospital.

Patients

Any patient from the above settings with a first episode of bacteraemia (first isolate of pathogenic bacteria from blood cultures) over a 3-year period.

Measurements and results

After exclusions 126 first episodes of bacteraemia were identified, of which 33 were in patients with liver dysfunction. Serum CRP concentrations were significantly lower in patients with liver dysfunction (median 103 mg/l, IQR 29–204) than in those without (146 mg/l, 74, > 250).

Conclusions

Patients with biochemical evidence of liver disease generate significantly lower serum CRP concentrations during bacteraemia than patients without liver dysfunction. Serum CRP concentrations should be interpreted with caution in patients with liver disease to diagnose and monitor bacterial sepsis.
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Metadata
Title
C-reactive protein concentrations during bacteraemia: a comparison between patients with and without liver dysfunction
Authors
Iain Mackenzie
Joe Woodhouse
Publication date
01-09-2006
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 9/2006
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-006-0251-1

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