A Review Article on C-Reactive Protein (CRP) As a Biomarker Indicator in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in India
Author(s): Shubham Bhatnagar*
Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 has been the most widely talked about disease owing to its virulence factors and higher replicability. It has been linked to many conditions such as metabolic distress, fever, dry cough, nausea, dyspnoea, myalgia, inflammatory disease, and autoimmune disorders. Since its discovery as an acute phase super molecule, C-reactive protein is a known general indicator for tissue injury and inflammation.
Objective: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of CRP in early recognition of severely hospitalized COVID patients.
Methodology: PubMed and Google scholars databases were searched electronically for suitable keywords and 11 publications were shortlisted for this review.
Observations: High CRP levels indicate undergoing inflammation and deterioration in admitted patients. Therefore, high levels indicate poor prognosis if timely intervention is not provided.
Conclusion: Although an increment in C Reactive Protein (CRP) is correlated with death from COVID-19 infection, the findings from different groups are mixed and inconsistent. Yet, the characteristics of high CRP levels (40 mg/L or more) are shown to be positively associated with morbidity and mortality in majority of the cases. This cut off point could help medical practitioners use this biomarker as an early warning sign for better surveillance, planning the course of treatment and care and predicting final outcome.
Its efficacy in detecting the disease in its early stages has been utilized in preventing the fatal effects of COVID-19. In the following review, we sought to assess the accuracy of CRP as a diagnostic as well as prognostic indicator for patients admitted with a severe degree of COVID infection.