High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)

Overview:

C-reactive protein is produced by the liver and rises when there is inflammation anywhere in the body. The high-sensitivity version of this test detects the small, persistent elevations that a standard CRP test is not designed to measure. Low-level inflammation of this kind has been associated with the gradual narrowing of arteries, which is why hs-CRP is generally interpreted alongside cholesterol, blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors rather than on its own. Recent infection, injury or a flare of an inflammatory condition can raise the result temporarily, so an elevated value is usually repeated before it is treated as meaningful.

Categories:

Heart, Inflammation

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker