The Usefulness of the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-reactive Protein for the Differential Diagnosis of Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in the Era of Microinflammation.

PURPOSE: The presence of a microinflammatory response is one of the possible pathological mechanisms related to the development of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAAION), a common cause of optic neuropathy in old age.We tested whether individuals with NAAION harbor a heightened microinflammatory response compared to controls. METHODS: We measured the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in NAAION patients during hospital admission and in four matched controls for each patient, retrieved from a large cohort of 20,000 apparently healthy individuals. RESULTS: We included 128 NAAION patients and 512 controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls regarding the inflammatory biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report showing a lack of difference in ESR and hs-CRP levels between NAAION patients and matched controls, suggesting NAAION is not associated with a heightened inflammatory response, such as the one associated with multiple atherothrombotic risk factors.

10 K: a large-scale prospective longitudinal study in Israel.

The 10 K is a large-scale prospective longitudinal cohort and biobank that was established in Israel. The primary aims of the study include development of prediction models for disease onset and progression and identification of novel molecular markers with a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic value. The recruitment was initiated in 2018 and is expected to complete in 2021. Between 28/01/2019 and 13/12/2020, 4,629 from the expected 10,000 participants were recruited (46 %). Follow-up visits are scheduled every year for a total of 25 years. The cohort includes individuals between the ages of 40 and 70 years. Predefined medical conditions were determined as exclusions. Information collected at baseline includes medical history, lifestyle and nutritional habits, vital signs, anthropometrics, blood tests results, Electrocardiography, Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI), liver US and Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) tests. Molecular profiling includes transcriptome, proteome, gut and oral microbiome, metabolome and immune system profiling. Continuous measurements include glucose levels using a continuous glucose monitoring device for 2 weeks and sleep monitoring by a home sleep apnea test device for 3 nights. Blood and stool samples are collected and stored at - 80 °C in a storage facility for future research. Linkage is being established with national disease registries.

Red blood cell distribution width and 3-year outcome in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), which is routinely reported in complete blood counts, is a measure of the variability in size of circulating erythrocytes. RDW is a novel, independent predictor of prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the significance of this biomarker in a relatively large cohort of patients, and to assess its association with a more severe underlying cardiovascular disease. A cohort of 3,222 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography was divided according RDW median. The association between RDW and 3-year outcome in the context of other predictors was assessed using Cox's proportional hazards analysis. Patients with elevated RDWs were older, had higher body mass indices, and had more cardiovascular risk factors and more cardiovascular diseases. The total rate of mortality, MI and stroke (MACE) was 7.7% (120 events) in the lower RDW group, and 18.2% (303 events) in the higher RDW group, p < 0.001. Following adjustment for multiple background risk factors, medications, and laboratory results, the RDW value was independently associated with worse outcome (HR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.07-1.18, p < 0.001, for each 1% increase in RDW). Elevated RDW values are independently associated with adverse 3-year outcome in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Significantly elevated C-reactive protein serum levels are associated with very high 30-day mortality rates in hospitalized medical patients.

BACKGROUND: There is insufficient data regarding the differential diagnosis and the prognostic value of significantly elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in hospitalized medical patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective review of medical charts of patients admitted to a tertiary hospital's Internal Medicine ward during a period of 1 year who had at least one CRP serum level measurement of 200mg/L or more. RESULTS: Overall, 341 patients with a mean age of 69.8+/-1.0 years were included in the study. Acute infection was the most prevalent diagnosis (n=293; 85.9%) with community-acquired pneumonia being the most common acute infection (n=115; 33.7%). Non-infectious conditions accounted for 9.1% (n=31) of the diagnoses and included mainly malignant metastatic diseases (n=19; 5.6%). Overall, 70 (20.5%) patients died within 30 days of admission. Age and active malignancy, with metastasis or without metastasis, were independently associated with 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: Significantly elevated CRP serum levels are associated with bacterial infections, malignant diseases, and very high rates of 30-day mortality in hospitalized medical patients.

C-reactive protein velocity to distinguish febrile bacterial infections from non-bacterial febrile illnesses in the emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a real-time and low-cost biomarker to distinguish febrile bacterial infections from non-bacterial febrile illnesses. We hypothesised that measuring the velocity of the biomarker instead of its absolute serum concentration could enhance its ability to differentiate between these two conditions. METHODS: We prospectively recruited adult patients (age >or= 18 years) who presented to the emergency department with fever. We recorded their data regarding the onset of fever and accompanying symptoms. CRP measurements were obtained upon admission. CRP velocity (CRPv) was defined as the ratio between CRP on admission and the number of hours since the onset of fever. Patients were diagnosed by clinical symptoms, blood cultures and imaging studies, and the diagnoses were confirmed by an infectious disease specialist. The efficacy of CRPv as a diagnostic marker was evaluated by using receiver operator curves (ROC). Excluded were patients who did not know the time fever started with certainty, patients with malignancy, patients with HIV infection and patients who had been using antibiotics upon presentation. RESULTS: Of 178 eligible patients, 108 (60.7%) had febrile bacterial infections (mean CRP: 63.77 mg/L, mean CRPv: 3.61 mg/L/hour) and 70 (39.3%) had non-bacterial febrile illnesses (mean CRP: 23.2 mg/L, mean CRPv: 0.41 mg/L/hour). The area under the curve for CRP and CRPv were 0.783 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.717 to 0.850) and 0.871 (95% CI = 0.817 to 0.924), respectively. In a 122-patient subgroup with a CRP level of less than 100 mg/L, the area under the curve increased from 0.689 (95% CI = 0.0595 to 0.782) to 0.842 (95% CI = 0.77 to 0.914) by using the CRPv measurements. CONCLUSIONS: CRPv improved differentiation between febrile bacterial infections and non-bacterial febrile illnesses compared with CRP alone, and could identify individuals who need prompt therapeutic intervention.