Crp

CRP

CRP stands for C-reactive protein, a substance made by the liver when your body mounts an inflammatory response. Levels of CRP in the blood rise quickly after infection, injury, or other sources of inflammation and fall again as the problem resolves. Doctors measure CRP with a simple blood test to get a general sense of how much inflammation is present. A high value does not tell you the exact cause but signals that something in the body is active and needs attention. There is also a high-sensitivity version of the test that can detect lower CRP levels used to assess long-term risk for conditions like heart disease. Because CRP is non-specific, clinicians combine it with symptoms, imaging and other tests to make a diagnosis or track treatment response. CRP is useful for monitoring how well therapies are working, such as antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. It is inexpensive and widely available, which makes it a practical tool in many healthcare settings. Interpreting CRP requires context, since levels can be affected by age, obesity, smoking and chronic conditions.