C-reactive protein(CRP) is a protein that is made by the liver.  Your doctor can test your CRP levels from a blood sample.  CRP increases in your body with inflammation.  The higher the level of CRP may indicate a serious underlying health condition.  This blood test can help diagnose and rule out a number of certain health conditions. 

A more sensitive test than the standard CRP test is a hs-CRP test.  This is also called a high sensitivity c-reactive protein test.  This test will be able to show even mild signs of inflammation.  It is normal to have some level of CRP in your bloodstream.  Having a CRP test can help show you if you have inflammation in your body and how much.  It cannot tell you the root cause of the inflammation however. 

 

Reasons To Have A CRP Blood Test

There are a number of reasons why your doctor may want you to have a CRP test done.  One is to check for infections.  Another reason is to help diagnose chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus.  It can also help to learn your risk of heart disease, or the risk of having a second heart attack. 

If you are experiencing symptoms such as fever, chills, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, nausea, and vomiting your doctor may also want to run this test to check for severe bacterial infections or fungal infections. 

Other conditions that a CRP test can help look for are osteomyelitis, inflammatory bowel disease, some forms of arthritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, allergic reactions, asthma, bronchitis, cancer, celiac disease, COPD, diabetes, high blood pressure, and pneumonia.  

 

There is no preparation that you need for this blood draw.  You will not have to fast to get this lab drawn.  A phlebotomist will be able to take a blood draw from a vein in your arm. 

 

Risk Factors for High CRP

Females have a tendency to have a higher level of CRP than males. 

Other factors that can elevate your levels are cigarette smoke, common cold, depression, diabetes, insomnia, gingivitis, obesity, periodontitis, pregnancy, recent injury, family history, alcohol use, and inactivity. 

 

Understanding CRP Numbers

Normal range for CRP is any number less than 0.9 milligrams per deciliter.  If you have a number lower than this you are in normal range. 

A number that is 1.0 to 10.0 milligrams per deciliter is considered moderately elevated.  This could show you having pancreatitis, bronchitis, a heart attack, or an autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis. 

A number higher than 10.0 milligrams per deciliter is marked elevation.  This can show an acute bacterial infection, viral infection, systemic vasculitis, or major injury.  

 

 

Treatment Options

Depending on your levels will depend on how your doctor wants to proceed.  More testing may be needed to find the underlying cause of your inflammation in the body.  Usually treating the underlying condition will help to lower inflammation, which in return will lower your CRP levels.  Your doctor will probably want to do repeat blood draws to check your levels after treatment has started to make sure that they are working in lowering the inflammation. 

Your CRP levels will fluctuate depending on the level of inflammation in your body.  If you see that your CRP levels decrease or lower after starting treatment, it will help you see if the treatment for inflammation is working or not. 

Treatment may include medications to help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. 

Other treatments your doctor may suggest are to quit smoking, exercise regularly, lose weight, eat a heart healthy diet, manage your diabetes, or reduce your alcohol intake.  

Having a high CRP level does not always indicate that you have a condition or are in need of treatment.  About 1 in every 20 people will have a higher than normal CRP level and have no underlying conditions or be in need of treatment. 

 

Takeaway

The c-reactive protein is created by the liver in reaction to increased inflammation in the body.  ACRP blood test can help your doctor see how much inflammation you have, but can’t diagnose the root cause of the inflammation.  More tests may be needed for a final diagnosis, but it is sometimes a good test for your doctors to start with.  If your levels start to decrease it can show that inflammation is decreasing in your body, and treatment is working.

 

 

READ MORE:  Blood Types & Health Risks


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