Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background & Aim: The patients suspected of appendicitis are evaluated by history, physical examinations and laboratory results. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of C-reactive protein in patients with suspected acute appendicitis. Patients & Method: In a prospective study, 299 patients with acute abdominal pain who had been admitted to hospital for observation were enrolled. Serum CRP measurements were performed and the results were compared with the final results of histopathology or follow-up results. The results were analyzed using Chi-square test and their accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were determined. Results: The findings showed that the accuracy of CRP test in diagnosing appendicitis was 70%(CI=Confidence Interval 95% from 65% to 74.4%), the sensitivity was 80.7%(CI95% from 71.2% to 87.6%), the specificity was 65.4%(CI95% from 58.8% to 71.5%), and the positive and negative predictive values were 49.3%(CI95% from 41.3% to 57.4%) and 89.0%(CI95% from 83.2% to 93.0%) respectively. The odds ratio was 8(CI95% from 4.3 to 14.4). Conclusion: The results of CRP test can help a surgeon rule out or confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis in suspicious cases.