Early-mid treatment C-reactive protein level is a prognostic factor in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Background: In the light of an emerging role for early‐mid treatment 18 F‐deoxyfluoroglucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) as an important prognostic indicator in aggressive non‐Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) , we attempted to determine whether a simple parameter, such as the early‐mid treatment CRP (C‐reactive protein) level, could also be utilized as a significant prognostic factor in aggressive NHL. Patients and methods: Serum CRP levels were monitored in 55 patients with aggressive NHL. The lowest value of the early mid‐term CRP levels recorded was compared with the interim PET‐CT results, as well as with the clinical course and eventual outcome. Results: During chemotherapy, the lowest value of early‐mid treatment CRP levels significantly predicted the results of the interim FDG‐PET (P = 0.04 with an odds ratio of 1.13). Patients who did not achieve an early‐mid treatment CRP level of