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.