Study of C-Reactive Protein Significance in Chronic Kidney Disease

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide major disease, both for the number of patients and cost of treatment involved. Screening for CKD at an early stage helps to initiate specific therapy to reduce the progression of renal disease and burden of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients with CKD and ESRD show elevated acute phase C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as a consequence of chronic inflammatory states. The aim of this research was to study the significance of CRP with objective of finding an association between the CRP and parameters of other co-morbidities. Material and methods: The study was conducted in the Department of General Medicine, Civil Hospital, Aizawl. Chronic kidney disease patients admitted in the General Medicine ward were included in the study. 140 CKD patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included to study the significance of CRP in CKD. CKD is defined as kidney damage or GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 for 3 months or more. All the patients selected for the study was investigated for serum CRP, Albumin, Creatinine, eGFR and ankle brachial index. Results: Most common past history of CKD patients was hypertension (29.3%) and diabetes mellitus (21.4%). >10 mg/L CRP patients serum albumin range (3.43±0.982 gm/dl) was significantly lower than <10 mg/L CRP patients (5.40±1.169 gm/dl). >10 mg/L CRP group eGFR range (35.74±7.54 ml/ min/1.73 m2 ) was significantly lower than <10 mg/L CRP group (42.39±11.47 ml/min/1.73 m2 ). Conclusion: This study shows a high rate of inflammation in CKD patients as seen by high CRP levels. High CRP levels are associated with lower eGFR and lower serum albumin levels