inflammation marker

inflammation marker

An inflammation marker is a substance in the blood or other body fluid that rises when the body’s immune system is active and causing inflammation. Common examples include C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and certain cytokines; doctors measure these to see whether and how much inflammation is present. Inflammation markers don’t usually point to one specific disease by themselves, but they help indicate whether an infection, injury, autoimmune condition, or chronic disease is causing the immune system to react. High levels can mean something acute, like a bacterial infection, or a chronic condition, like arthritis or heart disease risk; low or normal levels make active inflammation less likely. These markers are useful for diagnosis, deciding treatment, and monitoring how well therapies are working over time. However, they can be influenced by many factors such as age, obesity, smoking, and recent exercise, so results need to be interpreted alongside symptoms and other tests. Because they are simple blood tests, they’re commonly used in routine care to give a quick read on the body’s inflammatory state. Understanding inflammation markers helps people and clinicians recognize hidden problems earlier and tailor treatments to reduce harmful inflammation and improve outcomes.