Background: Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints in the emergency department and the evaluation presents an extraordinary challenge to the emergency physicians` skill. C-reactive protein, an acute phase protein which is increased in the...
Background: Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints in the emergency department and the evaluation presents an extraordinary challenge to the emergency physicians` skill. C-reactive protein, an acute phase protein which is increased in the presence of inflammation in various clinical conditions, has been proven useful in assessing disease severity, in monitonng the development of complications, and in evaluating the response to specific treatments. So we tried to determine whether CRP offers an advantage over other clinical or laboratory variables for decision-making in the management of acute abdominal pain in the emergency department. Method: Patients who came to a University Hospital ED with acute abdominal pain, between, September 1, 1998 and November 30, 1998, were included in this study, Data collection included age, sex, duration of symptom, location of pain, and laboratory data(white blood cell count, portion of neutrophil, ESR, CRP, amylase). Result: This study included 85 patients, 34 of whom were men. The mean age was 36.9±19.1% years CRP might be useful to detect the serious condition, sensitivity 81%, but more useful to differentiate normal condition from serious condition in acute abdominal pain patients, specificity 83%. Conclusion: CRP is an useful indicator of decision-making to abdominal patients in the emergency department. Hospitalization or operation is very unlikely when CRP value is normal.