C-Reactive Protein - Understand the Test (2024)

FAQs

C-Reactive Protein - Understand the Test? ›

A c-reactive protein test measures the level of c-reactive protein (CRP) in a sample of your blood. CRP is a protein that your liver makes. Normally, you have low levels of c-reactive protein in your blood. Your liver releases more CRP into your bloodstream if you have inflammation in your body.

Interpretation of CRP levels:

Less than 0.3 mg/dL: Normal (level seen in most healthy adults). 0.3 to 1.0 mg/dL: Normal or minor elevation (can be seen in obesity, pregnancy, depression, diabetes, common cold, gingivitis, periodontitis, sedentary lifestyle, cigarette smoking, and genetic polymorphisms).

C-reactive protein is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Results equal to or greater than 8 mg/L or 10 mg/L are considered high. Range values vary depending on the lab doing the test. A high test result is a sign of inflammation.

A CRP test result of more than 50 mg/dL is generally considered severe elevation. Results over 50 mg/L are associated with acute bacterial infections about 90% of the time.

You are at low risk of developing cardiovascular disease if your hs-CRP level is lower than 1.0 mg/L. You are at average risk of developing cardiovascular disease if your levels are between 1.0 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L. You are at high risk for cardiovascular disease if your hs-CRP level is higher than 3.0 mg/L.

Of the 53 patients with CD, the mean CRP was 2.80 mg/dL, regardless of disease location. Using a cutoff CRP level of 2.0 mg/dL, the odds ratio (OR) for terminal ileum involvement was 3.38, suggesting that those CD patients with a CRP greater than 2.0 mg/dL are more prone to have ileal involvement.

You could also have a high level because you're in the second half of your pregnancy or you're using birth control pills. If your CRP level is between 1 and 10 mg/dL, you could have: Bodily inflammation from autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Additionally, elevated CRP levels are associated with poor survival in many malignant tumors, such as soft tissue sarcoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, malignant lymphoma, and pancreatic cancer (10, 13-20).

Significantly elevated CRP levels tend to occur with severe infections, such as bacterial or fungal infections. Bacterial infection is responsible for about 90% of the cases involving CRP levels higher than 50 mg/l.

Is CRP a tumor marker? ›

High CRP predicted prognosis in most reports (90%) in these two tumor groups. In addition CRP predicted prognosis in most reports in other solid tumors, so it may also be a clinically useful predictor in lung, pancreas, hepatocellular, and bladder cancers.

Initial CRP levels did not differ among patients with sepsis or septic shock (median CRP level day 1 in sepsis: 150 (97–225) mg/l; septic shock: 127 (79–219) mg/l; p = 0.092). However, in the presence of septic shock, CRP was shown to increase until day 10 of ICU hospitalization (median 179 (66–225) mg/l).

Limiting or avoiding inflammatory foods like refined carbohydrates, fried foods, red meat and processed meat can help reduce CRP. Instead, focus on eating more anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, nuts, fatty fish and whole grains.

The normal level of anti-CCP is less than 20 Units. (At Hospital for Special Surgery, anti-CCP is reported in Units. Some labs report this same result using a different measurement notation, that is, as less than 20 EU/ml.) A level above 20 suggests the possibility of RA.

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors (aspirin, rofecoxib, celecoxib), platelet aggregation inhibitors (clopidogrel, abciximab), lipid lowering agents (statins, ezetimibe, fenofibrate, niacin, diets), beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists and antioxidants (vitamin E), as well as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ramipril, ...

High levels of CRP may mean you have a serious health condition that causes inflammation. Inflammation is your body's way of protecting your tissues and helping them heal from an injury, infection, or other disease. Inflammation can be acute (sudden) and temporary.

The hs-CRP test accurately detects lower levels of the protein than the standard CRP test. It measures CRP in the range from 0.3 to 10 mg/L. This test is used to evaluate individuals for risk of CVD.

Bacterial and fungal infections can cause a rapid rise in CRP levels. Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can cause chronic elevation of CRP levels, indicating ongoing inflammation.