C-reactive protein (CRP, CRP) is commonly called blood, which belongs to the group of acute phase proteins, an increase in the concentration of which indicates an inflammatory process in the body. This protein has found use in clinical diagnostics as an indicator of inflammation (more sensitive than ESR).
What does c-reactive protein mean in the blood? CRP is an acute phase protein that is a nonspecific indicator of inflammation. In what cases is this protein used?
Main indications for use:
- for the purpose of diagnosing various infectious processes;
- autoimmune conditions;
- in the postoperative period for monitoring purposes;
- to assess the effectiveness of therapy;
- when assessing the risk of cardiovascular pathologies.
CRP is synthesized by the liver and is present in the blood of all healthy individuals; normally, reactive protein is contained in an amount of less than 1 mcg/ml, in the absence of foci of inflammation.
In most cases, the concentration of CRP in the blood increases 6 hours after the onset of the inflammatory reaction. In the presence of an inflammatory process, of almost any etiology, including tumor and necrotic processes, the amount of protein increases significantly, which is why CRP is considered a nonspecific marker of the inflammatory response.
An increase in reactive protein in the blood can be an early sign of an infectious process, especially for bacterial infections.
An increase in the amount of protein is observed when:
- Sepsis;
- Myocardial infarction;
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- Active rheumatic process;
- Acute pancreatitis;
- Pancreatic necrosis.
This is important! The concentration of CRP is determined to determine the duration of antibiotic therapy. There is a causal relationship between an increase in CRP and ESR, but CRP appears and disappears before the ESR level changes.
In this regard, in medical practice, CRP is effectively used to assess the risk of cardiovascular pathologies and related complications, since it can be used to determine even minor changes in the amount of this protein in the blood serum.
Information about the causes of elevated CRP levels
C-reactive protein is elevated in the following cases:
- Presence of acute bacterial infections (sepsis);
- During exacerbations of chronic inflammatory (immunopathological and infectious) diseases;
- In case of tissue damage (acute myocardial infarction, trauma, burns, surgical interventions);
- In case of chronic, low-grade inflammatory process associated with an increased risk of pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- For malignant neoplasms and metastases;
- With excess body weight, diabetes;
- For arterial hypertension;
- For hormonal imbalances (increased levels of estrogen and progesterone in the blood serum).
What influences the outcome of the study?
It is customary to distinguish a number of factors that can provoke an increase in CRP levels
- Intense physical activity;
- Pregnancy;
- Taking COCs;
- With hormone replacement therapy.
Factors that reduce CRP levels:
- Taking beta blockers;
- NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, nimesulide);
- Statins;
- Corticosteroids.
General information about the analysis
C-reactive protein is a glycoprotein that is produced by the liver. In various pathologies, under the influence of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1, TNF-alpha and interleukin-6), its production increases within 6 hours from the onset of inflammation, and the concentration in the blood serum in the period from 24 to 48 hours increases 10−100 times .
This is important! An increase in baseline CRP levels can only be determined using highly sensitive laboratory tests.
The presence of even relatively elevated levels of protein in the blood, even with normal cholesterol levels in practically healthy patients, may indicate the likelihood of:
- Hypertension;
- Apoplexy;
- Myocardial infarction;
- obliterating atherosclerosis;
- sudden coronary death.
This is important! The level of reactive protein in the blood decreases with the use of acetylsalicylic acid and statins, which reduce inflammation in the walls of blood vessels in atherosclerosis. Moderate alcohol consumption, weight loss, and regular physical activity help reduce protein levels and, accordingly, reduce the risk of vascular pathologies.
Everyone knows the fact that among the causes of frequent mortality in the adult population, it is cardiovascular pathologies and their consequences that complications occupy a leading position.
It is thanks to studies of the level of CRP in combination with other indicators that they help to assess the risk of these pathologies in relatively healthy individuals, as well as to predict the course of the disease in patients with cardiac pathologies, which helps in their prevention and in planning drug therapy tactics.
For what purposes is CRP analysis used?
- To assess the risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies in practically healthy patients (in combination with other markers).
- To predict complications (stroke, myocardial infarction, sudden coronary death) in people with arterial hypertension and coronary artery disease;
- To assess the effectiveness of prescribed therapy for pathologies of the circulatory system;
- To prevent complications.
What are the results of a C-reactive protein test?
The average value of this medical analysis is - 0 - 1 mg/l.
- Protein concentration up to 1 mg/l - this indicates a low risk of pathologies of the cardiovascular system and their complications;
- The indicator - 1−3 mg/l - indicates an average risk;
- Indicators exceeding 3 mg/l indicate a high risk of vascular pathologies in patients with heart and vascular diseases, as well as in healthy people.
- If the protein level exceeds the barrier of 10 mg/l, a repeat analysis should be performed and additional examinations should be completed; this is necessary to identify infectious and other inflammatory diseases.
Which specialists should you contact to prescribe the analysis and interpret it?
To prescribe a study, a referral is issued by the following doctors:
- Cardiologist;
- Therapist;
- general practitioner.
And so, C-reactive protein is a well-known “gold marker” of inflammatory processes, which is one of the main components in diagnosis. .
This is important! All information listed is provided for informational purposes only. For more detailed information, consult your healthcare professional.
