C-reactive protein levels and prevalence of leukopenia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with azathioprine and/or mesalazine: a real-life study.

Objective: To examine serum C-reactive protein levels and the prevalence of leukopenia in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis undergoing treatment with azathioprine and/or mesalazine.

Methods: Retrospective observational study based on clinical and laboratory data collected from medical records of 76 adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with azathioprine, mesalazine or both. Sex, age, diagnosis, number of blood samples and elevated serum C-reactive protein levels during the follow-up period were recorded.