Medical expert of the article
New publications
C-reactive protein is ultrasensitive in the blood
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
For a long time it was believed that increasing the concentration of C-reactive protein above 5 mg / L was clinically significant, with the values below this value indicating the absence of a systemic inflammatory response. Subsequently it was shown that CRP values exceeding 3 mg / L are an unfavorable prognostic sign associated with the risk of vascular complications in practically healthy people and patients with cardiovascular diseases. In this regard, ultra-sensitive test systems and reagent kits were developed based on the modification of immunoturbidimetric and immunonebelometric methods with the immobilization of antibodies on latex particles. These methods have approximately 10 times greater analytical sensitivity than traditional ones and allow the minimum fluctuations in the concentration of C-reactive protein in the blood to be recorded even within "traditional" reference values.
With the development of ultrasensitive test systems, the emergence in clinical practice of the term "baseline CRP" - the concentration of C-reactive protein in serum, stably detected in practically healthy individuals, as well as in patients with no acute inflammatory process or exacerbation of the disease, is associated with the development of ultrasensitive test systems. It is for the determination of the base level of the C-reactive protein that high-sensitivity analysis methods are used. The value of the baseline level of C-reactive protein is of great practical importance, since it is directly related to the risk of developing severe cardiovascular diseases and complications - myocardial infarction and stroke. At a concentration of CRP in the blood below 1 mg / l, the risk of vascular complications is minimal, 1.1-1.9 mg / L is low, 2.0-2.9 mg / L is moderate, more than 3 mg / L is high. An increase in the concentration of CRP in the serum reflects the activity of inflammation, which even before the development of myocardial infarction or stroke is associated with the activity of atheromatosis. In connection with this, increasing the concentration of CRP should be considered as a sign of atherosclerosis. In patients with IHD, the initially high level of CRP should be considered as a factor of high risk of restenosis in angioplasty and delayed complications after aortocoronary shunting.
[