C-reactive protein levels during a relapse of Crohn’s disease are associated with the clinical course of the disease

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with an index serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level ≤ 15 and > 15 mg/L

Index serum CRP level during relapse (mg/L)	≤15	> 15	P-value
	LCRP	HCRP
n	27	67
Time of follow-up, yr (SD)	10.8 (4.0)	10.3 (3.7)	NS
Demographic factors
Sex: men	12 (44.4%)	32 (47.7%)	NS
Mean age, yr (SD)	45 (13.5)	42 (11.0)	NS
Clinical features
Age at time of diagnosis (SD)	27.0 (8.3)	27.4 (10.8)	NS
Duration of disease, yr (SD)	18.0 (10.2)	14.3 (7.3)	NS
Localization
Terminal ileum	6 (22.2%)	8 (11.9%)	NS
Colon	7 ( 25.9%)	31 (46.2%)
Ileocolon	13 (48.1%)	26 (38.8%)
Upper gastrointestinal	1 (3.7%)	2 (3.0%)
Behaviour
Non-stricturing non penetrating	13 (48.1%)	26 (38.8%)	NS
Stricturing	7 (25.9%)	15 (22.4%)
Penetrating	7 (25.9%)	26 (38.8%)

Data are given in numbers and percentages, unless shown otherwise. Significance between the two groups is calculated. Localization and behaviour according to the Vienna Classification of Crohn's disease. HCRP: High CRP response; LCRP: Low CRP response; NS: No significance; SD: Standard deviation.