Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29546774›Full record

ArticleLupus2018

The ratio of erythrocyte sedimentation rate to C-reactive protein is useful in distinguishing infection from flare in systemic lupus erythematosus patients presenting with fever.

E Littlejohn, W Marder, E Lewis, S Francis, J Jackish, W J McCune, E C Somers

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Lupus, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
40citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
8.1field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

40 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 88 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Guideline
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. [Why C-reactive protein is (usually) not high in SLE].Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Review
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Cytokine Storm.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2024
    Review
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

E Littlejohn1 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, 1259 University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3199-8905
W Marder1 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, 1259 University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
E Lewis1 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, 1259 University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
S Francis1 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, 1259 University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
J Jackish1 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, 1259 University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
W J McCune1 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, 1259 University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
E C Somers1 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, 1259 University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5234-3978
University of Michigan · US

Funding

Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR)UL1TR002240 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI LUMENG, JULIE C, MASHOUR, GEORGE ALEXANDER · 2017 to 2022
$54.9M
MICHIGAN INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL AND HEALTH RESEARCH (MICHR) (UL1): (BPCA)UL1RR024986 · NCRR · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI SHANLEY, THOMAS P. · 2007 to 2011
$51.2M
Strategic Vision & Impact on Environmental HealthP30ES017885 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI John D. Meeker · 2011 to 2026
$21.3M
Michigan BIRCWH Career Development ProgramK12HD001438 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI JOHNSON, TIMOTHY RB · 2000 to 2014
$6.7M
Immune dysfunction associated with early life heavy metal exposureK01ES019909 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI SOMERS, EMILY CATHERINE · 2011 to 2015
$670k
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR002240NCRR NIH HHS UL1 RR024986NICHD NIH HHS K12 HD001438NIEHS NIH HHS K01 ES019909NIEHS NIH HHS P30 ES017885
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background Both C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can be elevated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flare and infection, and are therefore of limited utility for distinguishing between the two conditions in febrile SLE patients. Methods A medical records review of hospitalizations (1997-2006) of SLE patients in the Michigan Lupus Cohort was performed. Eligible hospitalizations were those in which patients presented with a temperature of >100.3°F or with subjective fevers as a presenting complaint at admission. Detailed demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the associations between ESR and CRP and the outcome of flare vs infection, adjusted for confounders. Results Among 557 SLE patients screened, there were 53 eligible hospitalizations (28 flares and 25 infections). Each unit increase in the ratio of ESR:CRP was associated with a 17% increase in the odds of fever being attributable to SLE flare compared to infection (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.04, 1.31; p = 0.009), when adjusted for white blood cell count, SLE duration, sex, race, and age. ESR and CRP were not individually associated with flare vs infection when modeled with their ratio. Conclusions The ratio of ESR:CRP may provide diagnostic value beyond individual ESR and CRP levels in distinguishing flare vs infection in SLE patients presenting with fever.

Indexed as

Blood SedimentationAdultCohort StudiesC-Reactive ProteinDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleFeverHumansInfectionsLogistic ModelsLupus Erythematosus, SystemicMaleMiddle AgedC-Reactive ProteinBiomarkersinflammationsystemic lupus erythematosus

Identifiers

PMID29546774
PMCPMC5938146
OpenAlexW2791547794

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.