C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation.Increased CRP(C Reactive Protein) levels are found in inflammatory conditions including: bacterial infection, rheumatic fever, active arthritis, myocardial infarction, malignancies and in the post-operative state. This test cannot detect the relatively small elevations of CRP that are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.CRP is an acute phase reactant, which can be used as a test for inflammatory diseases, infections, and neoplastic diseases. Progressive increases correlate with increases of inflammation/injury. CRP is a more sensitive, rapidly responding indicator than ESR. CRP may be used to detect early postoperative wound infection and to follow therapeutic response to anti-inflammatory agents. Recent reports have indicated that a highly sensitive version of the CRP assay may be used as an additional indicator for susceptibility to cardiac disease.

In the setting of inflammation, CRP blood levels rise quickly. When the inflammation resolves, CRP is also metabolized quickly, leading to lower blood levels. Because C-reactive protein is so sensitive to inflammatory states, it is quite useful as a screening marker for inflammation.