Originate from CRP

The body is often confronted with attacks, whether of external origin (a bacterium, a virus, a trauma) or internal (autoimmune pathologies, cancers…). When this is the case, he sets up a defense strategy: this is the inflammatory reaction. Many cellular and chemical components are then released to fight against aggression, including messengers called cytokines. These will cause multiple clinical-biological signs having an effect on the nervous system (fever, drowsiness, anorexia), on the blood vessels, but also on the liver which will synthesize the proteins of inflammation (which CRP makes part).

Role of the CRP

CRPs play an important role in the immune response. They allow the mobilization and activation of leukocytes (or white blood cells), as well as the stimulation of phagocytosis, a well-known process of cell destruction. 

In response to an assault, the level of C-Reactive protein can be quickly multiplied by 1000. 

Symptoms of CRP

The general signs that usually accompany an acute inflammatory reaction are redness, swelling, feeling hot, and pain. Sometimes it is also accompanied by fever, asthenia, sleep disturbances and anorexia. 

Son dosage

The assay of CRP is justified for the research and the follow-up of an inflammatory process beginning because its time of response to an infection is rapid (6 to 12 h). It can be very useful to measure other proteins of inflammation for a better understanding of this one: some of them appear later (SAA, procalcitonin) and thus allow an evolutionary surveillance of the infection. It is consistent to perform a CRP assay following a routine examination that shows too high a sedimentation rate.

Normal values ​​for CRP are below 6 mg / l blood.

In the event of an increase in CRP

The only cause of increased CRP is inflammation. Two main scenarios are then to be considered, depending on the patient’s history:

• the patient has a known or easily diagnosed disease. In this situation, the most common cause is overt infection or burns. The disappearance of the inflammatory syndrome will then ensure the recovery of the patient. It is also usual to note an inflammatory syndrome in cancer patients.

Here are the diseases that can elevate CRP levels:

-bacterial infections (neonatal and post-surgical)

-the parasitoses and deep mycoses

-chronic viral infections (HIV, hepatitis B and C)

-neoplasias (deep cancer or with metastases, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukaemias)

-system and rheumatic pathologies (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, vasculitis, Horton’s disease, Wegener’s disease, myositis, Still’s disease, lupus erythematosus)

-digestive pathologies (Crohn’s disease)

-ischemic necrosis (infarction)

-trauma (surgery, burns)

The risks

He is currently recognized¹ that a moderate and chronic increase in CRP levels represents a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. According to the latest studies^2,3, CRP could even be a direct player in atherogenesis. 

Sources Blake GJ, Ridker PM. C-reactive protein, subclinical atherosclerosis, and risk of cardiovascular events. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2002; 22: 1512-3. Stenvinkel P, Heimburger O, Paultre F, Diczfalusy U, Wang T, Berglund L, Jogestrand T. Strong association between malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis in chronic renal failure. Kidney Int 1999; 55: 1899-911. Effects of C-reactive protein on the biology of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and monocytes : Implications for pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, Bello, Gaëlle — (2008-11-05) / UHP — Université Henri Poincaré