C- Reactive Protein in Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and the follow-up therapeutic response to tuberculosis (TB) among patients aged 19-68 years attending out-patient clinics of two hospitals in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria. Of 246 blood samples examined, the CRP value was highest (4.0%) among age group 21-40 years and there was significant difference between CRP values of age groups (p<0.001). More males (4.6%) had higher CRP value than females (1.5%), however there was no significant difference between their CRP values (p=0.173). C-reactive protein values was significantly higher (30.8%) among patients with severe anaemia (p<0.001). Also, the CRP value was significantly higher (57.1%) among patients with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate value greater than 100mm/h (p<0.001) and patients (38.1%) with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (p<0.001). C-reactive protein value was also significantly highest (50.0%) among patients infected with HIV only and HIV patients co-infected with TB (p<0.001). The elevated CRP values were progressively reduced to normal values (0-10mg/L) among TB infected patients but not HIV co-infected patients within the eight weeks therapeutic period. In conclusion, CRP level in blood could be regarded as a sensitive indicator to monitor the response to chemotherapeutic treatments of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Keywords: C-reactive protein, Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency, Virus, Outpatient, Abeokuta, Nigeria