C-reactive protein during chemotherapy for acute leukemia with special reference to non-infective causes of fever.

C-reactive protein, CRP, was followed longitudinally in 41 patients being treated for acute leukemia. It was analysed by a rapid (2-h) immunochemical assay in a laser-nephelometer. The cytostatic treatment given either intravenously or intrathecally did not cause any CRP increase with the exception of 7% of the treatment courses, given to 3 patients, and neither did transfusion reactions. The patients had altogether 117 febrile episodes. During 44 episodes with evidence of bacterial or fungal infection, CRP increased above the reference value (90 mg l-1). The same observation was made during 37 febrile episodes with clinically probable infections. CRP remained within the reference value when fever was caused by virus infections or occurring for unknown reasons.