Serum C-reactive protein level does not correlate with Crohn’s Disease Activity Index

Introduction : Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) is a conventional, but poorly validated estimate of severity of Crohn’s disease (CD). Similarly, the clinical significance of elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in CD patients is not well recognized. It is also unknown whether these two indices have similar informative value.
Aim : To investigate the correlation between serum CRP level and CDAI.
Material and methods : One hundred and forty-six patients (66 men and 80 women, mean age 37 ±12 years) with well established diagnosis of CD were included in the study. According to the admittance protocol in all patients the serum CRP was measured and all data necessary to calculate CDAI were collected.
Results : There was no significant correlation between CRP and CDAI either in the entire population or in subgroups selected on the basis of CD severity, site of bowel involvement, kind of ongoing pharmacological therapy, past surgery or body mass.
Conclusions : There is no correlation between serum CRP level and CDAI. These two indices reflect different aspects of CD severity.