C-Reactive Protein

Also written as: CRP, hs-CRP

A general marker that inflammation is present somewhere.

What it measures

The concentration of C-reactive protein, produced by the liver in response to inflammation anywhere in the body.

Why a doctor orders it

Used to detect and follow inflammation, and to monitor response to treatment in inflammatory conditions. A more sensitive version, hs-CRP, is sometimes used in cardiovascular risk assessment.

What is generally associated with a higher result

A raised CRP indicates inflammation somewhere but says nothing about where or why. Broadly associated with infection, injury, autoimmune conditions, obesity, smoking, and recent surgery.

What is generally associated with a lower result

Low values indicate no detectable inflammatory response at the time of the draw.

Everyday things that move this number

Not every shift in a value reflects disease. These are ordinary factors known to affect this particular measurement:

Any recent infection, including a cold
Recent injury or surgery
Obesity
Pregnancy
Some hormonal medications

Questions to take to your appointment

Is this being tracked over time or was it a one-off?
Could a recent illness explain this?

Build a printable questionnaire with your own results →

Where to read more

MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, publishes patient-facing pages on individual lab tests and is a reliable next stop: medlineplus.gov/lab-tests .

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