C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis

Br J Haematol. 2002 Nov;119(2):385-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2002.03886.x.

Abstract

The role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the diagnosis of suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and a possible advantage of its additional evaluation with D-dimer has not been clearly evaluated. We therefore studied plasma CRP and D-dimer levels in 233 consecutive patients with suspected DVT; the final diagnosis was based on the results of colour duplex ultrasound or venography. DVT was diagnosed in 31.3%. CRP and D-dimer correlated significantly (r = 0.64, P < 0.01); both were increased significantly in patients suffering from DVT (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant influence of the presence of DVT (P < 0.001), the presence of malignancy (P < 0.001) and the presence of inflammatory diseases (P = 0.009) on plasma CRP, while there was no significant influence of the duration of symptoms (P = 0.30). The sensitivity (75% vs 93%) to specificity (69% vs 55%) relationship showed inferior results for CRP compared with D-dimer; its additional evaluation did not improve the diagnostic value of D-dimer. We conclude that CRP can provide additional information neither for the diagnostic process in patients with suspected DVT nor for the differential diagnosis of DVT and inflammatory diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Reaction
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / analysis
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Ultrasonography
  • Venous Thrombosis / blood
  • Venous Thrombosis / diagnosis*
  • Venous Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products
  • fibrin fragment D
  • C-Reactive Protein