RESUMEN
To determine the efficacy of C-reactive protein in diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study. The study was conducted in Surgical Unit I of Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. The study was completed in six months, from 21 April 2005 to 30 June, 2005 and 26 January, 2006 to 26 May, 2006. In 100 patients with pain right iliac fossa, C-reactive protein, complete blood count and urine complete examination was done before appendicectomy. Patients were assigned into group A [normal appendix] and group B [acute appendicitis] on the basis of histopathology. Normal TLC and CRP values, raised TLC, raised CRP level and raised both TLC and CRP values were calculated in these groups. Performance of C Reactive protein in comparison with histopathology [Gold Standard] was assessed. In our study, 62 cases were males and 38 females. 83 cases had acute appendicitis and in 17 cases appendix was found to be normal. Patients having TLC >11,000 were 68 in group B and 03 in group A. Patients having TLC <11,000 were 15 in group B and 14 in group A. Patients having high CRP level were 77 in group B and 4 in group A. Patients having normal CRP level were 6 in group B and 13 in group A. The Specificity, Sensitivity, Predictive value [PV] of positive test, and Predictive value [PV] of negative test for CRP were 76.5%, 92.8%, 95.1% and 68.4% respectively. We found in this study that CRP was a good indicator of acute appendicitis and its routine use can decrease the rate of negative appendicectomies