Comparative value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) testing in combination versus individually for the diagnosis of undifferentiated patients with suspected inflammatory disease or serious infection a systematic review and economic analysis

Patients who have suspected inflammatory disease or serious infection may undergo a diagnostic workup that involves multiple laboratory tests. Two such laboratory tests are erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), non-specific blood tests often ordered together that are wel...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Assasi, Nazila
Corporate Author: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Ottawa (ON) Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health November 2015, 2015
Series:CADTH health technology assessment
Subjects:
Online Access:
Collection: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
Description
Summary:Patients who have suspected inflammatory disease or serious infection may undergo a diagnostic workup that involves multiple laboratory tests. Two such laboratory tests are erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), non-specific blood tests often ordered together that are well established and widely used to aid the diagnosis of numerous conditions. The simultaneous and widespread use of both tests has raised concerns about their potential overuse, particularly if they provide little valuable information regarding patient management and outcomes. The aim of this report is to address the issue of when, if ever, it is appropriate to concurrently test ESR and CRP (as opposed to testing only ESR or CRP) to help diagnose inflammatory disease or serious infection. Accordingly, research questions (see section 2) were developed to explore the added value associated with performing both tests rather than one
Physical Description:1 PDF file (iii, 61 pages) illustrations