DETERMINATION OF SERUM C- REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE PERIAPICAL ABSCESS- A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Dr R. Christeffi Mabel M.D.S, *Dr. Mayank Kumar Parakh B.D.S, Dr. B. Anand M.D.S and Dr. P. Jagathesh M.D.S

ABSTRACT

Background and objective: The circulating value of CRP has long been thought reflects ongoing inflammation more accurately than other laboratory parameters, but very few studies have been done to prove this for acute periapical abscess cases and hence this study was conducted. The objectives included to quantitatively determine the level of C- reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acute periapical abscess, to evaluate the level of C-reactive protein after the treatment of acute alveolar abscess and to prescribe the therapeutic regimen based on the C reactive protein value during the acute phase. Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 50 patients of which 40 patients had acute periapical abscess and 10 acted as controls. Results: The prevalence of Serum CRP was found to be Highly Significant between controls and abscess subjects with the p value being 0.000. The prevalence of Serum CRP was not found to be statistically significant between control and Postoperative abscess subjects with p value of 0.300. On comparing the Serum CRP levels mg/dl in preoperative and post operative subjects, P- value of 0.000 is found to be statistically Very Highly Significant. Conclusions: Our present study concluded that serum CRP is a marker for inflammation in patients with periapical abscess and that the CRP value drastically reduces once the infection is brought under control.

Keywords: C-reactive protein, acute periapical abscess, inflammation, infection.