Osteoarthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Osteoarthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Value of C reactive protein in the assessment of erosive osteoarthritis of the hand.

Punzi L, Ramonda R, Oliviero F, Sfriso P, Mussap M, Plebani M, Podswiadek M, Todesco S

Cattedra e Divisione di Reumatologia, Università di Padova, Via Giustiniani, 235128 Padua, Italy. punzireu@unipd.it

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of serum C reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of erosive osteoarthritis (EOA) of the hand. METHODS: Ninety eight patients, 67 with EOA and 31 with non-EOA of the hand, were included in the study and analysed for radiographic score (RS), number of erosions, and joint count (JC) at clinical observation and at bone scintigraphy. CRP was assayed in a serum sample by a highly sensitive immunonephelometric method. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) CRP level was 4.7 (2.4-6.9) mg/l in the EOA and 2.1 (0.5-4.9) mg/l in the non-EOA group (p = 0.001). In all patients, CRP correlated with RS (r(s) = 0.43, p<0.001), and mainly with JC at clinical observation (r(s) = 0.72, p<0.001) and at bone scintigraphy (r(s) = 0.47, p<0.001). The correlation of CRP with RS and JC was confirmed at clinical observation and at bone scintigraphy in the EOA subgroup, but only with JC at clinical observation in the non-EOA subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: CRP levels are higher in EOA than in non-EOA patients. These levels probably reflect the disease activity of EOA, as suggested by correlations between CRP and JC at clinical observation and at bone scintigraphy.

Published 17 May 2005 in Ann Rheum Dis, 64(6): 955-7.
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