What is the full form of CRP?
CRP: C-reactive protein
CRP stands for C-reactive protein. The liver produces it in response to inflammation. It is also known by various other names such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein (us-CRP). The level of CRP increases in the blood due to various reasons that can be cancer or an infection, etc.
A c-reactive test is performed to measure the level of C – reactive protein in the blood. This test is used to find medical conditions that cause inflammation. Some of the condition that leads to inflammation are listed below:
- Bacterial infections such as sepsis
- A fungal infection
- Heart attack
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Osteomyelitis (an infection of the bone)
- Pneumonia or tuberculosis
- Autoimmune disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
Besides this, if a person is showing symptoms like chills, fever, rapid heart rate, nausea and vomiting, a doctor may perform this test.
How is CPR performed?
Blood as a sample is taken with a needle from a vein located in the arm. The sample is collected in a vial and sent for testing. A high level of CRP in the blood indicates some type of inflammation in the body. However, it does not tell the cause or location of the inflammation. CRP is measured in milligrams per litre of blood (mg/L). No special preparation is required for this test. There may be slight pain for a few seconds when the needle is inserted.
Besides this, a high level of CRP is not always due to a medical condition as there are many other factors that may raise its level such as smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, etc.
CRP test is different from the high-sensitivity (hs) CRP test. Although both the tests measure CRP, they diagnose different conditions. A hs-CRP can measure very low levels of CRP and is used to find out the risk of heart disease.