C-reactive protein is a prognostic indicator in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

Table 1 Laboratory findings at time of diagnosis

Value (normal range)	Median	Range
Total bilirubin (0.1-1.2 mg/L)	9.1	0.3	38.3
Alkaline phosphatase (50-175 U/L)	375	26	2572
ALT (GPT) ( - 19 U/L)	61.5	8	464
Leucocytes (4.3-10.5 G/L)	11	3.6	95
CRP ( - 3 mg/L)	8.4	0.06	207
CA19-9 (0.25-20 U/L)	232.9	0.25	24385
PT (70%-130%)	98.5	36	190

ALT: Alanin-Amino-Transferase; GPT: Glutamat-Pyruvat-Transaminase; CRP: C-reactive protein; CA 19-9: Carbohydrate-Antigen 19-9; PT: Prothrombin time.

Table 2 Inter-group comparison between patients undergoing surgical resection and patients with irresectable tumors

	Resection (n = 23)	No resection (n = 75)	P
Age	65.8 (36.4-74.1)	71.8 (35.8-90)	0.0003
Bismuth	II (I-IV)	IV (I-IV)	0.001
Bilirubin	3.3 (0.3-17.5)	9.6 (0.4-38.3)	0.0026
CRP	15.6 (0.5-101)	9.9 (0.1-207)	0.445
CA19-9	71 (0.3-2910)	322 (0.3-24 385)	0.0098

Data are expressed as median (range).

Table 3 Results of univariate analysis for prognostic factors of survival

Variables	Hazard ratio	90% CI		P
Age	1.028	1.004	1.052	0.053
Bismuth type	0.784	0.656	0.927	0.023
Bilirubin	1.024	1.002	1.046	0.067
PT	0.996	0.989	1.004	0.402
CRPa	1.007	1.003	1.011	0.002
CA19-9	1.000	1.000	1.000	0.079
History of weight loss (yes/no)	1.125	0.783	1.615	0.592
Resection (yes/no)a	0.559	0.345	0.908	0.049
Chemotherapy (yes/no)	0.700	0.437	1.123	0.215
PDT (yes/no)	0.670	0.458	0.980	0.084

PT: Prothrombin time, CRP: C-reactive protein, CA 19-9: Carbohydrate-Antigen 19-9. Significant in the multivariate analysis (^aP < 0.05).