Fever, C-Reactive Protein, and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in Monitoring Recovery from Septic Arthritis

Abstract

Body temperature, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured sequentially in nine children less than 11 years old during their recovery from culture-positive septic arthritis (SA). The measurements were compared with those of two other children who recovered without antibiotic therapy. A clinical investigation carried out several months after discharge suggested permanent recovery in all cases, including the spontaneously recovered patients. Defervescence and normalization of the primarily elevated CRP and ESR values occurred in a similar manner in both groups. On average, fever lasted 5 days, CRP level decreased below 20 mg/L in 7 days, and ESR reached a value of ≤20–25 mm/h in 22 days. The normalization time of ESR differed highly significantly (p < 0.001) both from the duration of fever and from the normalization time of CRP level. Because CRP behaved in a similar manner in both the medicated and the nonmedicated groups, its normalization suggests true extinction of the active inflammatory process. If so, CRP level may be of benefit in monitoring the duration of antibiotic therapy for SA, but the hypothesis has to be confirmed in a larger clinical trial.