THE VALUE OF THE C-REACTIVE PROTEIN DETERMINATION IN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

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Abstract
The C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test was performed with the sera of 100 patients who had sustained an acute myocardial infarction with either unequivocable ecg, autopsy or combined confirmation of the diagnosis. CRP was detected in every myocardial infraction patient with significant Q waves in the ecg. The following conclusions were reached: (1) CRP is not a specific test for myocardial infarction; however, it seems to be an excellent adjunct in both the diagnosis and prognosis. (2) It is more reliable than the sedimentation rate in following the natural evolution. (3) It is highly positive in patients with acute myocardial infarction and qualitative changes follow improvement. (4) It is negative in the premonitory phase. (5) It is negative in old infarction, coronary insufficiency, and "coronary failure" syndrome. (6) The persistence of a positive CRP test is usually indicative of progressive infarction, phlebothrombosis, or some other embolic phenomena.