The clinical significance of CRP levels both above and within the normal range has led to increased CRP analysis in many clinical laboratories
Elevated CRP levels occur due to infections, tissue injury, inflammatory disorders and associated diseases.
Variations within the normal range can be used in the risk assessment of cardiovascular disease.
Randox responded to demand with the introduction of a Full Range CRP assay combining sensitivity in the low CRP range with high linearity at elevated levels.
CRP levels are elevated in viral infections such as upper respiratory tract infections and viral meningitis.
More pronounced elevations are seen in chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune diseases.
CRP can be used to monitor the progression of flare-ups and the effect of treatment on these conditions.
Inflammatory conditions are implicated in the development of atherosclerosis and there is a strong correlation between persistent inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
CRP has an established association with cardiovascular disease, making it a candidate as an emerging risk factor.
Studies have shown that some individuals have normal levels of LDL-cholesterol but also have elevated CRP levels, indicating an increased risk of cardiovascular disease that cannot be detected by cholesterol testing alone.
CRP also has applications in the secondary prevention of cardiac events.
Slightly elevated CRP levels can predict future cardiac events in patients with previous myocardial infarction, stroke or stable angina.
Research is ongoing to determine the value of CRP in establishing cardiovascular disease diagnosis and prognosis.
