Egyptian Journal of Bronchology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2015  |  Volume : 9  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 178--182

The diagnostic value of serum levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in differentiation between active pulmonary TB and CAP


Basem I El-Shafey1, Hoda M Bahr1, Salwa A Ganna1, Mohmad S Attia2, Mamdouh Rakhawy3 
1 Department of Chest, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
2 Department of Clinical Pathology, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
3 Department of Clinical Pathology, Abbassia Chest Hospital Ministry of Health, Cairo, Egypt

Correspondence Address:
Basem I El-Shafey
Department of Chest, Tanta University, Elgeish street, Tanta 31515
Egypt

Introduction: C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels are elevated in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), but PCT does not increase in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum levels of CRP and PCT in differentiating between active pulmonary TB and CAP. Participants and methods: The present study was carried out on 90 individuals divided into the following groups: group I included 10 control participants, group II included 40 patients with active pulmonary TB, and group III included 40 patients with CAP. Serum levels of CRP and PCT were measured. Results: CRP was significantly increased in group III compared with groups I and II. PCT was significantly increased in group III compared with groups I and II; also, there was a significant increase in group II compared with group I. The cut-off value of CRP between group II and group III was more than 24 (mg/dl), with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 70%, and that of PCT was more than 530 (pg/ml), with a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 97.5%. Conclusion: Measurements of CRP and PCT were complementary to each other to differentiate between pulmonary TB and CAP.


How to cite this article:
El-Shafey BI, Bahr HM, Ganna SA, Attia MS, Rakhawy M. The diagnostic value of serum levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in differentiation between active pulmonary TB and CAP.Egypt J Bronchol 2015;9:178-182


How to cite this URL:
El-Shafey BI, Bahr HM, Ganna SA, Attia MS, Rakhawy M. The diagnostic value of serum levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in differentiation between active pulmonary TB and CAP. Egypt J Bronchol [serial online] 2015 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];9:178-182
Available from: http://www.ejbronchology.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1687-8426;year=2015;volume=9;issue=2;spage=178;epage=182;aulast=El-Shafey;type=0