C-reactive protein (CRP) – indications for examination, norms, causes of increased CRP

Proven content

C-reactive protein is a glycoprotein belonging to the group of acute phase proteins. This means that its concentration increases with inflammation. The acute phase process is a nonspecific reaction of the organism to infection, chronic inflammation, trauma, development of the neoplastic process, but also – tissue ischemia or surgery.

Characterization of C-reactive protein (CRP)

CRP, also called glycoprotein, is an enzyme in the body that is produced by the liver. Its presence in the body increases along with inflammation, which is a consequence of tissue damage. Thus, CRP is part of the positive acute phase proteins. C-reactive protein plays a role in the immune system as one of its components. The main biological function of CRP is the ability to recognize microbes and detect damage to the body’s stem cells. The concept of C-reactive protein was introduced in 1941 by Abernethy and Avery, who looked at the chemical composition of the plasma in a patient with high temperature and found the presence of a glycoprotein in it. Increased CRP levels occur in people with infection, autoimmune diseases, such as RA, and in some injuries and neoplastic diseases. In non-inflammatory healthy people, glycoprotein is undetectable, and if so, in very small amounts.

C-reactive protein testing can be helpful not only in detecting the presence of inflammation itself, but also in diagnosing exacerbations of inflammatory ailments, such as RA. It should be emphasized that the study of C-reactive protein is a very variable parameter, which depends on many different factors.

CRP (C-reactive protein) test

The CRP test is a homemade, very simple way to check your C-reactive protein levels. By determining its concentration, it is possible to determine whether the disease is bacterial or viral. This is important information needed to undertake further therapeutic activities. Sometimes treatment is initiated on the basis of symptoms, which is why we often overuse antibiotics, even though the body does not need them. Taking antibiotics for no apparent reason weakens the immune system, which in turn leads to repeated infections. Therefore, it should be remembered that a runny nose, sore throat or malaise is not an indication for antibiotic therapy, if there is no bacterial background.

What are the advantages of the CRP test?

1. availability in pharmacies,
2. no need for specialist knowledge,
3. painlessness,
4. easy to use,
5. no need to puncture the vein (blood taken from the finger),
6. easy to store,
7. effective at an early stage of the disease,
8. very sensitive (over 95%),
9. short waiting time for the result (approx. 5 minutes),
10. avoids unnecessary antibiotic therapy,
11. greater precision than, for example, OB.

At Medonet Market you will find a Home Test for determining the concentration of CRP in the blood.

You can also purchase one of the packages that allow you to order home blood donation by qualified medical personnel and check other aspects important for human health. We recommend, among others:

1. Pre-consultation tests with a dietitian – home blood analysis,
2. Preventive examinations package – blood tests.

When do we do the C-reactive protein (CRP) test?

The CRP test is the basic test used in almost every diagnostic procedure. Its concentration may increase even before the onset of symptoms, so the test also has prognostic value and helps to initiate appropriate treatment. The test allows for the detection of acute inflammation, especially in the course of a severe bacterial infection or after surgery. In addition, it is useful for monitoring diseases with chronic inflammation, e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus, RA. It is also useful for assessing the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory treatments.

When do we do?

1. Suspicion of systemic disease.

2. Acute infections.

3. Chronic inflammatory process.

4. Suspicion of a neoplastic process.

Material for the CRP test: serum.

Preparation for the test: on an empty stomach (at least 8 hours). Before performing the examination, it is worth informing the doctor about the medications and diseases you are taking. Information on possible HIV or HBV transmission should also be provided.

The course of the study: one-time blood sampling from a vein in the arm.

Time to wait for the result: 1 day (depending on the laboratory).

Standard: less than 5 mg / l (for inflammatory conditions).

Comments: CRP concentration increases very quickly after the action of the pathological factor. The protein level changes very dynamically during the disease process and therefore can be used to detect pathology and monitor the effectiveness of treatment, while assessing the patient’s clinical condition and other biochemical indicators of organ function. In addition, it has been observed that an increased concentration of CRP is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and is an indicator of the inflammatory process in atherosclerotic plaques. The reference protein concentration level at which the risk of myocardial infarction is negligible has not yet been established.

1. Try a home test to detect C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein (CRP) – standards

In a healthy person, the CRP protein should be below 5 mg / l, people suffering from hypertension and smoking cigarettes have less than 10 mg / l. For this reason, if we are talking about a higher CRP, the range starts at 10 mg / l. It should be taken into account that the scope of the standards may vary depending on the techniques used in the laboratory. Usually, the reference range for a specific facility is provided with the result.

The causes of the elevated C-reactive protein

High CRP concentration is caused by various types of infections: viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic. The rate of C-reactive protein growth is important in diagnostics. CRP exceeding 500 mg / l (sepsis) is characteristic for bacterial infections. On the other hand, a concentration below 50 mg / l indicates a viral substrate. The most common causes of high C-reactive protein are:

1. myocardial infarction (CRP arises in the wall of the arteries, especially if we are dealing with atherosclerotic changes in internal membranes. The concentration of this protein in the body can increase up to 1000-fold after 48 hours after the detected damage and tissue necrosis.)
2. rheumatic diseases (in some cases RA – protein may have normal values),
3. malignant neoplasms (CRP concentration in people diagnosed with cancer may have three-digit values ​​and increase in direct proportion to the development of the disease),
4. acute pancreatitis (in a patient suffering from severe acute pancreatitis, the CRP test result reaches a concentration higher than 150 mg / dL in the period from the first to the third day after onset),
5. inflammation of the intestines (in the course of Crohn’s disease and other inflammations persisting in the intestines, the CRP level is much higher than in a healthy person),
6. previous surgical procedures (immediately after the procedure, CRP may have a very high concentration in the blood, while its gradual reduction means that the damage caused during the surgery is repaired),
7. previous injuries (the level of CRP increases as a result of damage to various tissues and organs, therefore its concentration will certainly be affected by any crushing, wounds, burns or ulcerations).

What could a high concentration of C-reactive protein mean?

When interpreting the test results, one should take into account factors that affect the level of C-reactive protein in the blood. It has some significance:

1. age,
2. płec,
3. feel,
4. season.
5. type of physical activity,
6. BMI (high patient BMI values ​​have been shown to be associated with higher levels of CRP in the body)
7. hypertension,
8. smoking,
9. taking hormonal contraception (women using oral contraceptives usually have an elevated level of CRP in the body),
10. diabetes,
11. Hormone Replacement Therapy.

It is also important to consider the large number of disease states in which protein levels rise. Of course, high protein concentration does not determine the diagnosis of a specific ailment, but only suggests that the body is undergoing inflammation. The test result should be interpreted together with the reported symptoms and the results of other laboratory tests.

Reading the results is not a simple thing, because even a slight increase in CRP level can be a consequence of many situations, not always associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk. Obtaining an abnormal hsCRP result in at least two tests performed two weeks apart indicates a high risk of cardiovascular complications.

A decrease in C-reactive protein levels indicates that inflammation has subsided, and in the case of treatment, such as RA, it is showing the expected benefits.