C-reactive proteins are the major acute proteins produced by liver in response to tissue damage. Its name derives from its pattern recognition activity as they act as soluble receptors which can recognize receptor patterns on microbial surface and bind to these surfaces and promote their opsonization. Precisely, C-reactive proteins bind to the C-polysaccharide cell-wall components found on a variety of bacteria & fungi.



The release of C-reactive proteins is a part of the complex cascade of events involving a variety of chemical mediators required to initiate the inflammatory response. So, high levels of CRP in the blood indicate inflammation somewhere in the body.

Inflammation is the primary immunological response to tissue damage caused by a wound or by an invading pathological microbe. So, it acts as an important indicator of initiation and progression of many diseases. Some of the important scenarios where inflammation is used as a marker are:

• In the detection of cardiovascular diseases

• As a check for effectiveness of various anti-inflammatory treatments.

• To help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, this is characterized by high levels of CRP.

• For early detection of various post-operative infections.

CRP levels can increase many thousand-folds with inflammation which makes CRP a very sensitive marker for diagnosis and prognosis using minimal amount of sample (that’s your precious blood boy!). Conditions that commonly lead to huge changes in CRP include fever, injury infection, trauma, surgery, burns, inflammatory conditions, and advanced cancer. Moderate changes occur after strenuous exercise, heatstroke, and childbirth. Small changes occur after psychological stress and in several psychiatric illnesses. Pregnancy may also increase CRP levels.

The most effective form of CRP tests available is High Sensitivity CRP tests (hs-CRP), which is optimized to detect CRP in healthy, asymptomatic individuals. This form can even detect low grade inflammation. Cardiologists use this test very often for risk assessment in individuals.

Since major infections or illness can result in alarmingly high, but temporary, levels of CRP, repeated testing may be required if CRP level crosses 10 mg/L.

CRP is therefore a test of value in medicine, reflecting the presence and intensity of inflammation, although an elevation in C-reactive protein is not the telltale diagnostic sign of any one condition because of the fact that inflammation in any part of the body will increase the CRP concentration in the blood stream. Other tests must be done in conjunction to find the root cause of inflammation. At last, to utter relief of some food lovers - unlike glucose test, you don’t need to fast before a CRP test because CRP levels are not affected by what you eat!