C-Reactive Protein Test
(CRP)
|
|
- C-reactive Protein (CRP) Overview
- C-reactive Protein Test
- C-reactive Protein and Cardiovascular Disease
- C-reactive Protein Measurement
- Recommendations for Patients to have C-reactive Protein Testing
- C-reactive Protein Treatment
- Next Stpes
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Author and Editor
C-reactive Protein Overview
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation in the body. Therefore, its level in the blood increases if there is any inflammation in the body. C-reactive protein, along with other markers of inflammation (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or ESR) are also sometimes referred to as acute phase reactants. C-reactive protein is produced by the cells in the liver.
Although the c-reactive protein level does not provide any specifics about the inflammatory process going on in the body (such as the location of the inflammation), it has been linked to atherosclerotic vascular disease (narrowing of blood vessels) by many studies. Atherosclerosis of blood vessels is thought to have an inflammatory component, and this may explain the link between this process and elevation of c-reactive protein.
Atherosclerosis can exist in varying stages. The basic theory suggests an injury to the blood vessel walls that occurs slowly over time. The site of initial injury then may become a focus for plaques to form, which contain inflammatory cells, cholesterol deposits, and other blood cells which are covered by a cap inside the lining of the blood vessels. This may represent a stable area of narrowing, or atherosclerosis, with mild inflammatory activity. These lesions can develop throughout the body in different degrees, and they can increase in size over time. Occasionally, the cap on one of these plaques can rupture and cause a more acute inflammation that results in impairment of blood flow in the involved vessel, leading to heart attacks or strokes when this occurs in the coronary arteries or arteries within the brain, respectively.
Picture of cholesterol plaque build-up and a blood clot, which can lead to a heart attack
Next: C-reactive Protein Test »
Heart Health
Get the latest treatment options.
From WebMD
Heart Disease Resources
- Separate Cholesterol Myths From Facts
- Lowering Your Cholesterol: Doing Enough?
- Do You Need a Fish Oil Supplement?
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
C-Reactive Protein (CRP Blood Test)
Crohn's Disease Overview
Crohn's disease is a chronic (slowly developing,
long-term) inflammation of the digestive tract. It can affect any part of
the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus but usually involves the terminal part of the small intestine, the beginning of the large intestine
(cecum), and the area around the anus. The inflammation causes uncomfortable and bothersome symptoms and may produce serious damage to the digestive tract.
Crohn's disease is sometimes called regional enteritis or ileitis. It and a similar condition called ulcerative colitis
are referred to together as inflammatory bowel diseases. These illnesses are known for their unpredictable flares and remissions.
The inflammation usually starts in one or more areas of the mucosa that lines the inside of the intestines.
- The disease may invade deeper tissues of the intestinal wall and spread to involve more areas of the b...
