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Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were determined in 67 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 12 patients with non-tuberculous respiratory disease and 12 each of healthy contacts of tuberculous patients and healthy volunteers. The mean serum CRP concentration was appreciably higher in the tuberculous patients than in the other three groups. Moderate or markedly elevated concentrations (³1 mg/dl) were observed in 58 (87%) of the 67 tuberculous patients whereas the concentrations were low in all the healthy volunteers and the healthy contacts, and in seven of the 12 patients with non-tuberculous respiratory disease. The correlation between CRP concentrations and viable counts of tubercle bacilli isolated from sputum of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, though statistically significant, was week (r = 0.41, p<0.01).
