Purpose: To investigate the usefulness of measuring C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of lung tuberculosis.
Object: Tuberculosis patients treated by chemotherapy at Fukujuji Hospital from Jan./1/2000 to Dec./31/2001.
Method: Chart review.
Results: CRP are negative in 13.3% (95%CI: 8.9-17.7%) in sputum smear positive lung tuberculosis patients (N = 226), and in 73.0% (95%CI: 62.0-84.0%) of sputum smear negative culture positive lung tuberculosis patients (N = 63).
Conclusion: Usefulness of measuring C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of bacteriological positive lung tuberculosis is limited.