The response of CRP to dexamethasone treatment
CRP level changes were quite different between the CON and HCA groups
after the injection of dexamethasone (Fig. 2D and
Table 2). In the CON group, CRP levels began to decline significantly by
31.71% from the baseline of 1.64 to 1.12 mg/L at 48 hours after the
initial treatment (p=0.024) and went on to reach the lowest level of
1.06 mg/L at 72 hours post initial treatment (by 35.37%, p=0.045). In
contrast, in the HCA group, a significant increase in mean CRP levels of
58.82% was found from the baseline of 2.38 to 3.78 mg/L at 24 hours
after treatment (p=0.013) and the CRP levels steeply dropped to 2.81mg/L
at 48 hours, this level was similar to the baseline (p=0.403). When
comparing the CRP levels between the two groups, results showed
significant difference at 24 hours (1.46 vs. 3.78 mg/L, p=0.018), 48
hours (1.12 vs. 2.81 mg/L, p=0.018) and 72 hours (1.06 vs. 2.23 mg/L,
p=0.001). The response of CRP to dexamethasone injection might be more
likely associated with HCA.