why is crp(c-reactive protein) done?

Answer 1

C-reactive protein is examined often as an indicator of damage to the heart muscle. Increased levels of c-rp are often indicative of damaget to the heart via MI (myocardial infarction - a.k.a heart attack), or weakening of the heart muscle, although this test is not a precise indicator. Sometimes an elevated c-rp can be causedy by other factors, such as damage/injury to other muscles.

Answer 2

CRP is used mainly as a marker of inflammation. Measuring and charting C-reactive protein values can prove useful in determining disease progress or the effectiveness of treatments. Blood, usually collected in a serum-separating tube, is analysed in a medical laboratory or at the point of testing.

Answer 3

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a plasma protein, an acute phase protein produced by the liver. It is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins. It should not be confused with C-peptide or Protein C.

[edit] History and nomenclature
C-reactive protein was originally discovered by Tillett and Francis in 1930 as a substance in the serum of patients with acute inflammation that reacted with the C polysaccharide of pneumococcus [1].


[edit] Genetics and biochemistry
The CRP gene is located on the first chromosome (1q21-q23). CRP is a 224 residue protein [2] with a monomer molar mass of 25106 Da, and native cyclic pentamer mass of 125530.


[edit] Function

CRP drawn from PDB 1B09.CRP is a member of the class of acute phase reactants as its levels rise dramatically during inflammatory processes occurring in the body. It is thought to assist in complement binding to foreign and damaged cells and affect the humoral response to disease. It is also believed to play an important role in innate immunity, as an early defense system against infections.


[edit] Diagnostic use
CRP is used mainly as a marker of inflammation. Measuring and charting C-reactive protein values can prove useful in determining disease progress or the effectiveness of treatments. Blood, usually collected in a serum-separating tube, is analysed in a medical laboratory or at the point of testing.

Various analytical methods are available for CRP determination, such as ELISA, immunoturbidimetry, rapid immunodiffusion and visual agglutination.

Viral infections tend to give a lower CRP level than bacterial infection.


[edit] Cardiology diagnostic test
C-reactive protein blood test[3]

Low risk: <1mg/L
High risk: >3mg/L
How to lower: Exercise, lose weight, stop smoking, flaxseed, aspirin, niacin, statins, alcohol, clean teeth

[edit] Role in cardiovascular disease
Recent research suggests that patients with elevated basal levels of CRP are at an increased risk for diabetes[4], hypertension and cardiovascular disease. A study of over 700 nurses showed that those in the highest quartile of trans fat consumption had blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP, a pro-inflammatory cytokine which is a cardiovascular disease risk factor) that was 73% higher than those in the lowest quartile[5] Although one group of researchers indicated that CRP may only be a moderate risk factor for cardiovascular disease [6], this study (known as the Reykjavik Study) was found to have some problems for this type of analysis related to the characteristics of the population studied, and there was an extremely long follow-up time which may have attenuated the association between CRP and future outcomes [7]. Others have shown that CRP can exacerbate ischemic necrosis in a complement-dependent fashion and that CRP inhibition can be a safe and effective therapy for myocardial and cerebral infarcts[8].

To measure the CRP level, a "high-sensitivity" CRP or hs-CRP test needs to be performed and analyzed by a laboratory. This is an automated blood test designed for greater accuracy in measuring low levels of CRP, which allows the physician to assess cardiovascular risk. If a result in the low-risk range is found ( < 1 mg/L), it does not need repeating. Higher levels need repeating, and clinical evaluation as necessary.


[edit] Role in colon cancer
The role of inflammation in cancer is not well known. Some organs of the body show greater risk of cancer when they are chronically inflamed.

Blood samples of persons with colon cancer have an average CRP concentration of 2.69 milligrams per liter. Persons without colon cancer average 1.97 milligrams per liter. The difference was statistically significant [9]. These findings concur with previous studies that indicate that anti-inflammatory drugs could lower colon cancer risk [10].


[edit] See also
acute phase
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
immunology
Cardiology diagnostic tests and procedures

Answer 4

Beside sam's answer,Clinically use crp as a indicator of recurrent of cardiovascular disease(heart acttack) and stroke.Higher is more danger of recurrent of these disease Because we believe that those disease relate to low level of inflammation is going on.
Low risk <1mg/L,high risk >3mg/L.