C-reactive protein levels in HIV complicated by opportunistic infections and infections with common bacterial pathogens

In order to determine the pattern of C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration s in HIV-infected patients with various other infections, we conducted a pr ospective study (for the period 1990-91) of all HIV-seropositive patients h ospitalized with fever and a retrospective study (for the period 1980-95) o f all patients infected with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Pneumocy stis carinii pneumonia (PCP), Samples from blood, cerebrospinal fluid and s ites with clinical signs of infection were obtained for bacteriological cul ture. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) determination was performed for cytom egalovirus in blood and CSF, Patients with opportunistic infections had a s ignificantly lower increase in CRP concentration than patients infected wit h common bacterial pathogens. Patients with PCP and mycobacterial infection s had a distinct CRP response after the onset of therapy. Lack of CRP incre ase at diagnosis of MAC infection was associated with a shorter survival an d normalization of CRP after MAC therapy with a significantly longer surviv al.