Diagnostic value of C-reactive protein and transthyretin in bone infections of the lower limb

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta Vol. 255; no. 1; pp. 27 - 38
• Main Authors: Bourguignat, Alain, Férard, Georges, Jenny, Jean-Yves, Gaudias, Jeannot, Kempf, Ivan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 15.11.1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood Sedimentation; Bone Diseases - blood; Bone Diseases - diagnosis; Bone Diseases - etiology; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Diagnostic value; Erythrocyte Count; Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Female; Fractures, Open - complications; Hematocrit; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Leg Injuries - complications; Leg Injuries - surgery; Leukocyte Count; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Open fracture; Postoperative infection; Prealbumin - analysis; Prospective Studies; Surgical Wound Infection - blood; Surgical Wound Infection - diagnosis; Tibial Fractures - complications; Tibial Fractures - surgery; Time Factors; Transthyretin; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; CRP; C-reactive protein; ESR; Transthyretin; AAG; HT; Diagnostic value; RBC; TTR; Open fracture; ALB; WBC; Postoperative infection; Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; ESR-1; Human; Biological fluid; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Biological marker; Lower limb; Exploration; Trauma; Blood; Binding protein; Thyroxine binding prealbumin; Clinical biology; Diagnosis; Bone; C reactive protein
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-8981(96)06388-7

In a prospective study, white and red blood cell counts, hematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), albumin, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein (CRP), and transthyretin (TTR) values were determined by serial measurements during 23 days in 80 patients with an open fracture of the lower limb. Postoperative reference profiles were defined in 74 patients without septic complications. In the six remaining patients, serum CRP and TTR concentrations were found efficient for the early diagnosis of postoperative infections: a CRP/TTR mass concentration ratio higher than 0.6 from the 8th day after surgery was sensitive (100%) and specific (93%). Variations of CRP and TTR concentrations often preceded the clinical diagnosis in patients with early infection. ESR was found unreliable with regard to postoperative infection because of its high dependence with respect to red blood cell count.