C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND TOTAL LEUKOCYTE COUNT IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS

ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The objective was to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of C reactive protein and Total leukocyte
count by taking histopathological diagnosis of acute appendicitis as the gold standard.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in the surgical unit of Naseer Teaching Hospital, Gandhara
Medical University, Peshawar, from 1st January 2013 to 31st March 2015. The study included 50 adult patients of either
gender with clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Blood samples for Total leukocyte count and C-reactive protein
measurement were collected from all the patients before surgery. Operative findings were recorded. Removed appendices
were sent for histology. The data was entered and processed on the SPSS 20 version.
RESULTS: The patients included 32 males and 18 females. Male to female ratio was 1.8:1. Mean age was 24 years.
Frequency of negative appendicectomy was 16%. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of Total leukocyte
count were 80.5%, 62.5% and 91.8% respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of C-reactive
protein were 85.7%, 75% and 94.5% respectively. In patients with histopathologically confirmed acute appendicitis,
both the TLC and C - reactive protein were found to be statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: C-reactive protein and Total Leukocyte Count supplement the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis