Comparison of CRP levels and radiological grading in OA knee

Aim: to determine crp levels in osteoarthritis knee patients with different radiological grades. methods: we analyzed one hundred and sixty outdoor patients with osteoarthritis knee. patient's historytaken regarding daily activities,severity of pain based on visual analogue scale and trauma detailsin few patients were noted. in physical examination swelling,deformity and range of movements were noted. patient's height,weight and bmi were noted. x-rayexamination especially ap standing and lateral views were performedand graded according to kellgren and lawrence. crp level was done by eliza method and compared with clinical and radiological severity. results: patients age varied from 32 years to 75 years with an average 49.8 years and 71 males and 89 females. two third of the patients had pain severity from 3 to 6 on visual analogue scale. most of the patients were idiopathic. swelling and decrease in range of movements were homogenous with increasing severity. kellgren lawrence grade i to iv had increasing average crp levels. conclusion: elevated crp at one occasion in opd patients indicates inflammatory changes in synovium and progression of osteoarthritis of knee.