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Biomedical subjects

G Richman

Publications and source records attributed to G Richman.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

A comparison between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and selected acute-phase proteins in the elderly.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and selected acute-phase proteins (APPs) were studied in 101 elderly people (mean age, 72 years) to determine their utility as diagnostic aids in subjects with underlying infections or inflammation. ESR and values for serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), the fourth component of complement (C4), haptoglobin, and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) all correlated with infection or inflammation. C4 was the only test predictive of mortality at six months. Neither ESR nor any of the APPs demonstrated concomitantly high sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed low true positive to false positive ratios for all of the tests studied. In the elderly, measurement of APPs as a guide to underlying infection or inflammation has limited utility and offers no advantage over the traditional low-cost ESR.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1989

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein compared in the elderly.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were studied in 101 elderly individuals (mean age 72 y) to determine their utility as diagnostic aids in subjects with underlying infection/inflammation. Whereas ESR and CRP were both significantly increased in patients with infection or inflammation, or both, analysis of variance indicated that those subjects still alive six months later had significantly lower ESR values. Analysis of sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values indicated that neither test satisfactorily discriminated between patients with and those without ongoing active or chronic disease. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed the low true-positive/false-positive ratios of both ESR and CRP. In the elderly, neither CRP nor ESR has distinct advantages over the other, and both tests evidently have limited utility.

Aged↗