Sinusitis

What does high c reactive protein mean? Elevated with reactive protein and ESR

Many components of the body directly reflect the state of human health. C reactive protein is a substance that is a natural component of blood plasma. It was discovered in the 30s of the last century and included in the group of proteins that react sharply to the altered state of the body. Today, C reactive protein is the most important indicator of inflammatory reactions and infections, since it is quickly produced in the liver and immediately reacts to negative processes. Thanks to such an ultrasensitive substance as C reactive protein, it is possible to quickly identify pathology and begin timely treatment.

What is c reactive protein

When is there an increase in the SBR rate and its reasons?

As mentioned above, C reactive protein in the blood indicates the presence of serious disorders in the body and is an indicator of the acute stage of the disease. The main reasons influencing its increase are the following diseases:

Rheumatism;
Infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi;
Endocarditis;
Rheumatoid arthritis;
Tuberculosis;
Pneumonia;
Peritonitis;
Myocardial infarction;
Malignant tumors;
Multiple myelomas.

Also, elevated C reactive protein is recorded in severe complications after surgery.
With the active development of a disease such as rheumatism, the reasons for its development are very diverse; an increased protein level is observed in almost every patient. If the inflammatory process in rheumatism decreases, the CRP level also decreases. During myocardial infarction, an increase in protein levels occurs 20-30 hours after the onset of the disease, after 2-3 weeks it decreases, and if treatment is successful, by 40 days the indicator returns to normal.

In severe forms of bacterial infections, the protein level is many times higher than the standard. With effective treatment, this indicator quickly decreases, but if it remains high, this indicates the development of complications. Reactive protein is ultrasensitive to the presence of malignant tumors, which means that its amount begins to increase when cancer cells appear. An increase in the indicator is diagnosed in lung cancer, malignant tumors of the stomach, prostate gland, etc. Thus, the analysis of SBR is used as an additional tumor marker, which is intended to identify and evaluate cancer diseases.

SBR in children and during pregnancy in women

The norm of this substance in a child should also be no more than 5 mg/l; if the analysis shows a higher value, this indicates the onset of the disease. In a newborn baby, if the protein level is elevated, sepsis is suspected. In this case, antibacterial treatment is immediately carried out. Often, an analysis in which an excess of protein in a child indicates the presence of the following pathologies:

Pneumonia;
Dermatomyositis;
Dermatoid arthritis;
Systemic lupus;
Rubella;
Measles;
Chickenpox;
Chronic inflammatory processes.

If reactive protein is elevated during pregnancy, this is an alarming signal for women, since this condition indicates negative processes. In addition, during pregnancy in women, a high level of protein exceeding the norm threatens premature birth.

Blood test for CRP and its interpretation

A blood test for C reactive protein is a quick and high-quality method that helps to detect inflammation in a timely manner, as well as distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial or fungal one. The main indications for analysis are:

Advanced age;
Diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis;
Coronary heart disease and hypertension;
Monitoring of patients taking acetylsalicylic acid and statins;
Collagenosis;
Various types of neoplasms;
Infectious pathologies;
Treatment of certain chronic diseases.

This test involves taking blood from a vein. To achieve a better result, you must adhere to some rules before the examination:

Eliminate heavy physical activity for a few days.
On the eve of the analysis, do not consume fatty or fried foods or alcohol.
Before donating blood, you should not drink coffee, strong tea, or juice; only still water is allowed.
Smoking is prohibited half an hour before the examination.

It should be remembered that only a specialist can interpret the analysis and, if necessary, prescribe treatment. Normally, the C reactive protein test is negative. If the indicator is slightly exceeded from 1 to 3 mg/l, then there is a risk of developing certain diseases and complications; with an increased CRP of 10 mg/l, additional procedures are prescribed and the cause of the disease is determined.

You need to know that the following factors can affect the results of the examination:

Taking hormonal medications;
Contraceptives;
Smoking;
Too much physical activity;
Pregnancy;
Use of non-steroidal, corticosteroid substances.

You can lower the level of C reactive protein only by eliminating the cause of its increase. It is also advisable to constantly adhere to a diet, lead an active lifestyle, monitor your weight, and give up bad habits.

When conducting a biochemical study, in some cases CRP may be detected in the blood - not all patients know what it is. This is the designation for C-reactive protein, a sensitive element in the blood that appears when body tissues are damaged, inflammatory processes develop, or foreign organisms penetrate.

What is SRB?

C-reactive protein is a special blood structure that instantly responds to the appearance of inflammation in the body. This substance is a kind of marker that allows doctors to determine the presence in the body of even sluggish pathological processes that do not appear externally. The protein consists of five separate subunits connected to each other in the shape of a pentahedron. They are connected to each other using covalent bonds.

C-reactive protein is present in the body in small concentrations, but its volume increases significantly with the development of pathologies affecting the following internal organs:

liver;
kidneys

Determination of C-reactive protein

CRP in a biochemical blood test is determined by calculating the number of mg of this protein per 1 liter of biological fluid. Blood obtained from the patient's antecubital vein is used as a sample. Subsequently, the resulting biological fluid is sent to the laboratory for a full microscopic examination. The results of the analysis are known on the same day. They are assessed by a doctor who has information from the patient’s medical history and the results of other laboratory and instrumental studies. The normal values of CRP in the blood (what it is indicated above) are variable and depend on:

patient's gender;
age.

What does a CRP blood test show?

Patients who are scheduled for testing often have no idea what C-reactive protein shows and why it is measured. The main goal of the study is to confirm the presence of pathology in the body, which does not always manifest itself. If there is an incubation period, doctors can learn about infection 4-6 hours after infection.

This allows you to quickly respond and start therapy at an early stage, shortening the treatment period and preventing possible complications. In addition, the study helps determine the transition of the disease from the acute to the chronic phase, when symptoms subside, but recovery does not occur.

Blood test for CRP - preparation

In order for the C-reactive protein blood test to show an objective result, doctors warn patients about the need to prepare for the test. It consists of limiting food intake 12 hours before the test. During this time, you will need to completely eliminate fatty and fried foods and alcohol from your diet. The last meal before blood sampling should occur no later than 8 hours before the expected time of analysis.

At this time, only drinking is allowed: ordinary water without gas. Juices, tea and coffee are excluded before analysis. Smoking is prohibited 30 minutes before the test. In order to obtain objective results and avoid the need for repeated examinations, doctors recommend on the eve of the analysis to protect yourself from stressful situations, overexertion, and physical activity.

How to get tested for CRP?

The biochemistry of SRB blood does not differ from conventional venous blood sampling. The procedure is optimally carried out within 8–11 hours. The sampling is made from the patient's ulnar vein. In this case, the laboratory technician uses a disposable syringe or a special vacuum system. The analysis requires 5–10 ml of blood. After receiving the material, it is placed in a dry, sterile tube, which is labeled in a special way. The applied code contains information about the patient, which is then taken into account when interpreting the analysis results.

CRP blood test - explanation

Only a specialist can determine whether C-reactive protein is in normal concentration in the blood. When assessing the result obtained, not only the numerical value of the indicator is taken into account, but also the overall clinical picture, the patient’s condition and the time of the study. In some cases, a slight increase in protein concentration may be recorded a short time after the examination. In addition, an increase in the level of this compound can be observed during the transition of a previously identified pathology from the chronic stage to the acute stage.

C-reactive protein is normal

Having found out why the concentration of CRP in the blood is determined, what kind of substance it is, it is necessary to name the normal indicators. Depending on the analytical methods, reagents used and units of measurement, test results may vary between laboratories. In this case, the spread is insignificant, but may be present. When assessing the results of the examination, doctors must take into account the patient’s gender and age.

In some cases, a slight presence of CRP in the blood may be observed, the norm of which is set to 5 mg/l. This value applies to both women and men. However, when assessing the results, physiological factors are also taken into account, which can provoke a slight increase in CRP in the bloodstream of women.

Doctors often interpret the results as follows:

up to 1 mg/l – the likelihood of inflammatory diseases and complications is low;
1–3 mg/ml – increased risk of developing pathologies, the presence of chronic pathologies in the body;
above 5 mg/l – there is inflammation in the body in the acute stage.

Norm of CRP in the blood of women

Minor, temporary fluctuations in the level of CRP in the blood of women (what it is is described above) are a variant of the norm. They are often associated with cyclical changes occurring in the body of women of reproductive age. Menstrual flow is always the period when there is a decrease in the body's defenses. As a result, there is a risk of developing a disease or exacerbation of a chronic infection in the body. As a result of such changes, an increase in C-reactive protein is possible.

CRP is also elevated during pregnancy. At this time, this indicator can briefly reach a value of 20 mg/l. This is observed at short stages of gestation, when the girl may not yet know about the conception that has occurred. The immune system initially reacts to the fertilized egg as a foreign agent. As a result, there is an increase in the concentration of C-reactive protein, which is short-term.

CRP is the norm in men

In males, the norm of CRP in the blood is the same 5 mg/l. However, unlike women, virtually no fluctuations in the values of this parameter are observed. Interpretation of the results of the analysis for C-reactive protein in the blood, the norm of indicators, can be carried out as follows:

less than 1 mg/l – the result is close to normal, there is no risk of vascular diseases;
1–3 mg/l – increased value, indicating a high probability of heart damage;
3–5 mg/l – exacerbation of a chronic disease;
more than 5 mg/l – acute stage of inflammation, requiring additional examination.

CRP is the norm in children

Due to the stress and heavy loads that the baby experiences when passing through the birth canal, C-reactive protein is present in his blood. Thus, the norm of CRP in the blood of newborns is set at 0.6 mg/l. Over time, the concentration of this substance gradually increases. Neonatologists associate this phenomenon with a period of active adaptation of a small organism to changed environmental conditions. So, in babies, after a week of life, CRP reaches 1.6 mg/l, which is a variant of the norm. An increase in the indicator can also be recorded in older children.

Increased CRP in the blood - what does it mean?

In itself, an increase in the concentration of this protein in the blood is only a symptom of a possible disorder and is not considered a sign of pathology. In order to establish what exactly caused the appearance of C-reactive protein in the bloodstream, an additional comprehensive examination is required. Fixation of high CRP values is an indication for repeated analysis. As experts' observations show, C-reactive protein is increased when:

inflammation;
pregnancy;
exacerbation of chronic diseases;
injuries;
smoking.

Increased CRP in the blood - reasons

If C-reactive protein is significantly elevated in the bloodstream, doctors prescribe a set of diagnostic measures aimed at accurately identifying the cause. Often the patient will have to undergo a dozen examinations before receiving a final conclusion. Why C-reactive protein is elevated, which means it can only be determined after receiving the results of all tests. Among the main pathologies in which CRP is detected in the blood (we figured out what it is), it is necessary to highlight:

diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
cancer of any location;
tuberculosis;
neonatal sepsis.

Increased CRP - what to do?

High C-reactive protein is an indication for a complete examination of the patient. The features of therapy and its duration are completely determined by the type of pathological process. At the same time, doctors try to exclude all foci of chronic infection in the body. The presence of this protein indicates a high risk of developing heart attacks and strokes. When the main cause of the increase in protein is eliminated, its concentration returns to normal on its own.

To avoid an increase in C-reactive protein, doctors recommend:

Undergo preventive examinations on time.
Get tested for markers of inflammation.
Completely comply with the prescribed treatment.

When you noticeably feel a loss of strength, and the reason is unclear, the doctor prescribes a test to determine CRP standards using a biochemical blood test. CRP is nothing more than C-reactive protein, an elevated level of which indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. This method of laboratory diagnostics is widely used in modern medicine, since it is recognized as the most informative. Based on its results, the doctor will be able to build a line of correct therapy.

What is C-reactive protein

Human blood contains a whole group of plasma proteins. One of them is C-reactive protein. This blood component is known for its hypersensitivity - it instantly reacts to the appearance of even the slightest inflammation in the body.

CRP is secreted by the liver. Its main function is to increase the body's immune defense.

Even with slight damage to internal tissues, CRP begins to rise, thereby forcing the entire system to work to increase the level of protection.

C-reactive protein “works” in tandem with pneumococcal polysaccharides. Combining together, they become a barrier to infection and prevent it from spreading throughout the body. These are some kind of protectors. It is no coincidence that the worse a person feels, the higher the level of this protein in the patient’s blood.

CRP actively stimulates the production of leukocytes and phagocytosis of cells. In other words, there is active stimulation of innate immunity.

Why get tested?

Biochemistry to detect the level of CRP in the blood is prescribed to detect foci of inflammation. When present, the level of this protein increases several times.

This study helps determine the nature of the inflammation: viral or bacterial.

Biomaterial collection is mandatory after surgery. In this way, the attending physician monitors the quality of rehabilitation. Nature intended that immediately after surgery, the level of protein “takes off” sharply in order to maximally protect the body from infection. As soon as the patient begins to return to normal, the level of CRP immediately stabilizes.

Thus, the main objectives of the study are:

Determine the degree of intensity of the inflammatory process
Monitor whether drug therapy is successful
Monitoring postoperative complications
Determine whether the body has begun to reject tissue after transplantation

Today, such diagnostics are carried out using two methods:

Veltman's test
alpha - 1 - antitrypsin

Indications for analysis

Laboratory blood diagnostics for elevated c-reactive protein are prescribed in the following cases:

postoperative period;
condition after a stroke;
diabetes;
hypertension;
cardiac ischemia;
the appearance of tumors, both benign and malignant;
latent infections.
examination before surgery, especially before coronary artery bypass grafting.

Preparing for the examination

The effectiveness of the analysis directly depends on how correctly the biomaterial is submitted. To avoid misinterpretations and subsequent false diagnoses, it is recommended to follow a number of tips for preparing for blood donation:

avoid fatty and spicy foods;
eliminate alcohol;
avoid overheating or hypothermia;
do not be nervous;
try to maintain a 12-hour fasting break before taking the test;

What does a biochemical blood test for CRP indicate?

When the results of a biochemical blood test to determine the level of CRP are on your hands, it is important not to start panicking ahead of time, but to try to understand what these mysterious numbers mean. The result will be ready the next day after the biomaterial is submitted.

Each laboratory has its own reagents, so the reference values may fluctuate somewhat. If we take the average indicator, then it is considered that the normal level of c-reactive protein is considered to be from 0 to 0.3-0.5 mg/l. These digital guidelines were introduced relatively recently. Previously, the transcript could be seen either “positively,” which was considered the norm, or “negatively.” In the latter case, the number of crosses from 1 to 4 was displayed next to the result. The more pluses, the stronger the inflammation.

The norm in women may vary depending on the following factors:

pregnancy;
use of hormonal contraceptives;
age over 50.

So for an expectant mother, normal levels are up to 3.0 mg/l. This is due to hormonal changes.

A woman over fifty should have no C-reactive protein.

In men, the protein level should not exceed 0.49 mg/l.

It is very important to monitor CRP levels in children. Normally, fluctuations can be from 0 to 10 mg/l. Any increase in this indicator is a reason to begin serious treatment. The first analysis is taken in the first hours of the baby’s life from the umbilical cord. Necessary to rule out neonatal sepsis.

An increase in c-reactive protein in children can be a symptom of meningitis, influenza, rubella and other “childhood” diseases.

Reasons for deviations from the norm

Most often, proteins are elevated in the test results. This is justified by the following reasons:

Pathological deviations	Physiological reasons
Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus erythematosus Rheumatoid arthritis Tuberculosis Cancerous tumors accompanied by metastases; Purulent infections; Blood poisoning; Acute stage of myocardial infarction; Pathological abnormalities in the blood; Hepatitis; Pneumonia; Injuries of various types After operation Consequences of chemotherapy	Pregnancy; Hormonal therapy; Presence of a transplant in the body Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives In athletes during periods of active physical activity Failure to comply with blood donation rules

It is important to know that as C-reactive protein increases, the content of sialic acid increases. Its level should vary within 730 mg/liter. If both indicators are significantly higher than normal, then we can talk about serious inflammation, even tissue death.

Of course, increased plasma reactive protein levels are just a symptom. The diagnosis will be made by a doctor based on research. Sometimes additional diagnostics are required. Follow all the recommendations, and then the chance of avoiding the unpleasant consequences of an advanced disease will be maximum.

From a vein. Indeed, in the process of this diagnostic method, those diseases are identified that do not manifest themselves in any way even during ultrasound examinations, computer or magnetic resonance imaging, or x-rays.

Only an integrated approach guarantees the correct diagnosis, which means that it is thanks to biochemical analysis from the vein that it becomes possible to identify the disease at an early stage.

Blood, the uniqueness of which lies in its presence in all organs, is a kind of “mirror” of the work of the body. This happens because in the process of functioning, each of the organs supplies waste products, specific substances, that are unique to it. If their number deviates in one direction or another, we can conclude that there are some problems in the body.

One of the reliable ways to diagnose serious diseases is biochemical from a vein to C-reactive protein.

This component of the immune system response is constantly present in the body. However, if its amount increases, it means that some disease is progressing in the person. Such a diagnosis is especially important if you are apparently feeling well.

The article discusses why c-reactive protein is elevated, causes, treatment.

What is C-reactive protein?

The blood plasma protein responsible for diagnosing inflammatory processes is called C-reactive protein or CRP.

Its concentration in the blood is directly related to the activity of the immune system.

The constant presence of a small amount of this component is normal.

After all, every day a person is attacked by bacteria, viruses, sometimes minor injuries occur, which means that the body’s defense system has to work constantly.

In simple words the process can be described as follows: During inflammation or infection in the organ, cell membranes are damaged. As a result, biochemical processes are disrupted, red blood cells die, and toxins enter the blood.

C-reactive protein binds to harmful breakdown products and helps remove them from the body. It also activates phagocytosis and the work of lymphocytes. Normally, the amount of C-reactive protein does not exceed 5 mg/l.

CRP is produced in the liver during moments of acute inflammation or worsening chronic diseases.

C-reactive protein is one of the most sensitive markers, since its increase in the blood is already noted in 6-12 hours after the onset of inflammation. And although the presence of protein does not indicate a specific disease, it does mean that a destructive process has begun in the body.

Why is C-reactive protein elevated?

An upward change in the amount of CRP can be caused by a number of diseases, including:

cardiological,
respiratory system,
infectious (viral or bacterial),
and many others.

A slight excess of a component, for example, may indicate that you are at risk for cardiovascular diseases.

C-reactive protein analysis is a basic diagnostic method for detecting damage to vessel walls in cardiology. Even if CRP is present in normal quantities, it is constantly at a level close to the upper limit ( more than 3 mg/l), it is worth assuming that atherosclerotic processes are running in the body.

If c-reactive protein significantly exceeds the norm, then the disease has already gained momentum.

Moreover, the higher the level of CRP, the more intense and severe the inflammatory process. Next, we will take a closer look at why c-reactive protein is highly elevated, the reasons for this and treatment.

Increasing CRP to 10-30 mg/l presumably means the presence of viral infections, the appearance of tumors or metastases, the sluggish course of chronic or diabetes mellitus
Increasing CRP from 40 to 100-200 mg/l indicates bacterial infections (,), complications in the postoperative period, acute, or exacerbation of chronic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic vasculitis).
Increase in CRP more than 300 mg/l means that severe generalized infections, skin damage (burns) or blood poisoning () are progressing in the body.

The most dangerous condition is an increase in c-reactive protein with apparent good health and no symptoms. After all, this means that some kind of veiled pathological process is occurring in the body. That is why, even in a favorable condition, CRP testing should be done regularly.

How to prepare for a C-reactive protein test

It is necessary to prepare for any tests in advance, this also applies to testing the amount of CRP in the blood.

There are several rules to follow:

Donate blood on an empty stomach, in the morning, from a vein.
If it is not possible to take it in the morning, then do not eat food for at least 5 hours before. Also refrain from fatty foods, coffee, tea, and alcohol.
Avoid physical activity.

Improper preparation for tests leads to to incorrect results. For example, smoking, use of oral contraceptives, and recent surgery lead to a falsely elevated level of C-reactive protein in the blood. The result is reduced by the use of steroids, salicylates, and blood hemolysis.

As for the treatment of elevated levels of CRP in the blood, then it does not exist. After all, this is an indicator that only tells about problems in the body’s functioning, which means that the cause must be eliminated or treated, not the effect.

In this article, we looked at why C-reactive protein is elevated, causes, treatment, and much more.

So, do not neglect your health, and do not ignore this important biochemical indicator. After all, it is easier to regularly donate blood from a vein yourself, so as not to miss the onset of a serious disease, than to treat it later.

Interesting

C-reactive protein (CRP, C-Reactives protein - CRP) is a fairly old laboratory test, which, like indicates that there is an acute inflammatory process in the body. CRP cannot be detected using conventional methods; in a biochemical blood test, an increase in its concentration is manifested by an increase in α-globulins, which it, along with other acute-phase proteins, represents.

The main reason for the appearance and increase in the concentration of C-reactive protein is acute inflammatory diseases, which give a multiple (up to 100 times) increase in this acute phase protein within 6 – 12 hours from the start of the process.

In addition to the high sensitivity of CRP to various events occurring in the body, changes for the better or worse, it responds well to therapeutic measures, and therefore can be used to control the course and treatment of various pathological conditions accompanied by an increase in this indicator. All this explains the high interest of clinicians, who called this acute-phase protein a “golden marker” and designated it as central component of the acute phase of the inflammatory process. At the same time, the detection of CRP in a patient’s blood was associated with certain difficulties at the end of the last century.

CRP in the blood and a separate protein molecule

Problems of the last century

The detection of C-reactive protein until almost the end of the last century was problematic, due to the fact that CRP was not amenable to traditional laboratory tests, components. The semi-quantitative method of ring precipitation in capillaries using antiserum was rather qualitative, since it was expressed in “pluses” depending on the number (in millimeters) of flakes (precipitates) that fell out. The biggest drawback of the analysis was the time spent getting the results - the answer was ready only a day later and could have the following meanings:

No sediment – the result is negative;
1 mm of sediment – + (reaction is weakly positive);
2 mm – ++ (positive reaction);
3mm – +++ (pronounced positive);
4 mm – ++++ (strongly positive reaction).

Of course, waiting 24 hours for such an important analysis was extremely inconvenient, because in a day a lot could change in the patient’s condition and often not for the better, so doctors most often had to rely primarily on ESR. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which is also a nonspecific indicator of inflammation, unlike CRP, was determined within an hour.

Currently, the described laboratory criterion is valued higher than both ESR and leukocyte indicators. C-reactive protein, which appears before the increase in ESR, disappears as soon as the process subsides or the treatment has its effect (after 1 - 1.5 weeks), while the erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be above normal values for up to a month.

How is CRP determined in the laboratory and what do cardiologists need?

C-reactive protein is one of the very important diagnostic criteria, so the development of new methods for its determination has never faded into the background, and nowadays tests to detect CRP have ceased to be a problem.

C-reactive protein, which is not included in the biochemical blood test, can be easily determined using latex test kits, which are based on latex agglutination (qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis). Thanks to this technique, in less than half an hour the answer, which is so important to the doctor, will be ready. Such a rapid study has proven itself to be the very initial stage of the diagnostic search for acute conditions; the technique correlates well with turbidimetric and nephelometric methods, therefore it is suitable not only for screening, but also for the final decision regarding diagnosis and choice of treatment tactics.

The concentration of this laboratory indicator is determined using highly sensitive latex-enhanced turbidimetry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay methods.

It should be noted that very often the described criterion is used for diagnostics of pathological conditions of the cardiovascular system, where CRP helps to identify possible risks of complications, monitor the progress of the process and the effectiveness of measures taken. It is known that CRP itself is involved in the formation of atherosclerosis, even at relatively low values of the indicator (we will return to the question of how this happens). To solve such problems, traditional methods of laboratory diagnostics do not satisfy cardiologists, so in these cases, high-precision hsCRP measurement is used in combination with the lipid spectrum.

In addition, this analysis is used to calculate the risk of developing cardiovascular pathology in diabetes mellitus, diseases of the excretory system, and unfavorable course of pregnancy.

Norm SRB? One for all, but...

In the blood of a healthy person, the level of CRP is very low or this protein is completely absent(during laboratory testing, but this does not mean that it is not there at all - the test simply does not detect tiny amounts).

The following limits of values are accepted as the norm, and they do not depend on age and gender: in children, men and women it is the same – up to 5 mg/l, the only exceptions are newborn children - they are allowed to have up to 15 mg/l this acute phase protein (as evidenced by the reference literature). However, the situation is changing if you suspect: neonatologists begin urgent measures (antibiotic therapy) when the child’s CRP increases to 12 mg/l, while doctors note that a bacterial infection in the first days of life may not cause a sharp increase in this protein.

A laboratory test is prescribed to detect C-Reactives protein in the case of many pathological conditions accompanied by inflammation, the cause of which is infection or destruction of the normal structure (destruction) of tissues:

Acute period of various inflammatory processes;

Activation of chronic inflammatory diseases;

Infections of viral and bacterial origin;

Allergic reactions of the body;

Active phase of rheumatism;

Myocardial infarction.

In order to better understand the diagnostic value of this analysis, it is necessary to understand what acute phase proteins are, learn about the reasons for their appearance in the patient’s blood, and in more detail consider the mechanism of immunological reactions in acute inflammatory processes. Which is what we will try to do in the next section.

How and why does C-reactive protein appear during inflammation?

CRP and its binding to the cell membrane in case of damage (for example, during inflammation)

SRP, participating in acute immunological processes, promotes phagocytosis at the first stage of the body's response (cellular immunity) and is one of the key components of the second phase of the immune response - humoral immunity. It happens like this:

Destruction of cell membranes by a pathogen or other factor leads to the destruction of the cells themselves, which does not go unnoticed by the body. Signals sent from the pathogen or from leukocytes located near the site of the “accident” attract phagocytic elements to the affected area, capable of absorbing and digesting particles foreign to the body (bacteria and the remains of dead cells).

Local response to remove dead cells causes an inflammatory response. Those with the highest phagocytic ability rush to the scene of the incident from the peripheral blood. A little later they arrive there to help with education mediators that stimulate the production of acute phase proteins (CRP), if necessary, and perform the function of a kind of “janitors” when it is necessary to “clean up” the source of inflammation (macrophages are capable of absorbing particles larger than themselves in size).

To carry out the processes of absorption and digestion of foreign factors occurs at the site of inflammation stimulation of the production of own proteins(C-reactive protein and other acute phase proteins), capable of resisting an invisible enemy, enhancing by their appearance the phagocytic activity of leukocyte cells and attracting new components of the immune system to fight infection. The role of inducers of this stimulation is taken on by substances (mediators) synthesized by macrophages “ready for battle” located in the lesion and arriving in the zone of inflammation. In addition, other regulators of the synthesis of acute-phase proteins (cytokines, glucocorticoids, anaphylotoxins, mediators formed by activated lymphocytes) are also involved in the formation of CRP. CRP is produced primarily by liver cells (hepatocytes).

Macrophages, after performing their main tasks in the area of inflammation, leaving, capture a foreign antigen and are sent to the lymph nodes in order to present it (antigen presentation) to immunocompetent cells (helper cells), which recognize it and give the command to B cells to begin antibody formation (humoral immunity). In the presence of C-reactive protein, the activity of lymphocytes with cytotoxic abilities increases markedly. CRP from the beginning of the process and at all its stages and itself is actively involved in the recognition and presentation of the antigen, which is possible thanks to other immunity factors with which it is in close relationship.

Less than half a day (approximately 12 hours) will pass from the beginning of cell destruction, how the concentration of serum C-reactive protein will increase many times. This gives grounds to consider it one of the two main acute phase proteins (the second is serum amyloid protein A), which carry the main anti-inflammatory and protective functions (other acute phase proteins perform primarily regulatory tasks during inflammation).

Thus, an increased level of CRP indicates the onset of an infectious process. at the earliest stage of its development, and the use of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs, on the contrary, reduces its concentration, which makes it possible to give this laboratory indicator special diagnostic significance, calling it the “golden marker” of clinical laboratory diagnostics.

Cause and investigation
For its qualities that ensure the performance of numerous functions, C-reactive protein was nicknamed “two-faced Janus” by a witty researcher. The nickname turned out to be apt for a protein that performs many tasks in the body. Its versatility lies in the roles it plays in the development of inflammatory, autoimmune, necrotic processes: the ability to bind to many ligands, recognize foreign agents, and promptly attract the body’s defenses to destroy the “enemy.”
Probably, each of us has at some point experienced the acute phase of an inflammatory disease, where C-reactive protein plays a central role. Even without knowing all the mechanisms of SRP formation, you can independently suspect that the whole body is involved in the process: the heart, blood vessels, head, endocrine system (the temperature rises, the body “aches”, the head hurts, the heartbeat quickens). Indeed, the fever itself already indicates that the process has begun, and changes in metabolic processes in various organs and entire systems have begun in the body, caused by an increase in the concentration of acute-phase markers, activation of the immune system, and a decrease in the permeability of vascular walls. These events are not visible to the eye, but are determined using laboratory indicators (CRP, ESR).

C-reactive protein will be elevated within the first 6-8 hours from the onset of the disease, and its values will correspond to the severity of the process (the more severe the course, the higher the CRP). Such properties of CRP allow it to be used as an indicator at the onset or course of various inflammatory and necrotic processes, which will reasons for the increase in the indicator:

Bacterial and viral infections;

Acute cardiac pathology ();

Oncological diseases (including tumor metastasis);

Chronic inflammatory processes localized in various organs;

Surgical interventions (violation of tissue integrity);

Injuries and burns;

Complications of the postoperative period;

Gynecological pathology;

Generalized infection, sepsis.

Elevated CRP often occurs with:

Tuberculosis;

(SCV);

Acute lymphoblastic (ALL);

Jade;

Cushing's disease;

Visceral leishmaniasis.

It should be noted that indicator values for different groups of diseases can differ significantly, for example:

Viral infection, tumor metastases, rheumatic diseases, which are indolent, without severe symptoms, give a moderate increase in the concentration of CRP - up to 30 mg/l;

Exacerbation of chronic inflammatory processes, infections caused by bacterial flora, surgical interventions, acute myocardial infarction can increase the level of the acute phase marker by 20 or even 40 times, but in most cases from such conditions one can expect an increase in concentration up to 40 – 100 mg/l;

Severe generalized infections, extensive burns, septic conditions can very unpleasantly surprise clinicians with numbers indicating the content of C-reactive protein; they can reach prohibitive values ( 300 mg/l and much higher).

And further: Without wanting to scare anyone, I would like to raise a very important issue regarding the increased amount of CRP in healthy people. A high concentration of C-reactive protein with complete external well-being and the absence of signs of any pathology suggests the development of an oncological process. Such patients should undergo a thorough examination!

but on the other hand

In general, in its properties and abilities, SRP is very similar to immunoglobulins: it “can distinguish between self and foe, bind to the components of the bacterial cell, ligands of the complement system, and nuclear antigens. But today two types of C-reactive protein are known and how they differ from each other, thereby adding new functions C-Reactives protein can be shown by a clear example:

Native (pentameric) acute phase protein, discovered in 1930 and consisting of 5 interconnected ring subunits located on the same surface (therefore it was called pentameric and attributed to the pentraxin family) - this is the SRB that we know and talk about. Pentraxins consist of two sections responsible for specific tasks: one recognizes a “stranger”, for example, an antigen of a bacterial cell, the other “calls for help” those substances that have the ability to destroy the “enemy”, since the SRB itself does not have such abilities;

“New” (neoSRB), represented by free monomers (monomeric CRP, which is called mCRP), which has other properties not characteristic of the native variant (fast mobility, low solubility, acceleration of platelet aggregation, stimulation of production and synthesis of biologically active substances). A new form of C-reactive protein was discovered in 1983.

A detailed study of the new acute phase protein revealed that its antigens are present on the surface of lymphocytes circulating in the blood, killer cells and plasma cells, and it turns out (mCRP) from the transition of a pentameric protein to a monomeric protein with the rapid development of the inflammatory process. However, the most important thing that scientists have learned about the monomeric variant is that “new” C-reactive protein contributes to the formation of cardiovascular pathology. How does this happen?
Elevated CRP is involved in the formation of atherosclerosis

The body's response to the inflammatory process sharply increases the concentration of CRP, which is accompanied by an increased transition of the pentameric form of C-reactive protein to the monomeric one - this is necessary to induce the reverse (anti-inflammatory) process. An increased level of mCRP leads to the production of inflammatory mediators (cytokines), adhesion of neutrophils to the vascular wall, activation of the endothelium with the release of factors that cause spasm, the formation of microthrombi and impaired circulation in the microvasculature, that is, the formation.

This should be taken into account in the latent course of chronic diseases with a slight increase in the level of CRP (up to 10 – 15 mg/l). A person continues to consider himself healthy, but the process slowly develops, which can lead first to atherosclerosis, and then to myocardial infarction (the first) or others. Can you imagine how much risk a patient has if he has elevated concentrations of C-reactive protein in a blood test, a predominance of the low-density lipoprotein fraction in the lipid spectrum, and high values of the atherogenic coefficient (AA)?

In order to prevent sad consequences, patients who are at risk must remember to take the tests necessary for themselves, moreover, their CRP is measured by highly sensitive methods and examined in the lipid spectrum with the calculation of the atherogenic coefficient.

The main tasks of the DRR are determined by its “many faces”

The reader may not have had all of his questions answered regarding the central acute phase component, C reactive protein.
Considering that complex immunological reactions of stimulation, regulation of CRP synthesis and its interaction with other immune factors are unlikely to be of interest to a person far from these scientific and incomprehensible terms, the article focused on the properties and important role of this acute-phase protein in practical medicine.

And the importance of DRR is truly difficult to overestimate: it is indispensable in monitoring the course of the disease and the effectiveness of therapeutic measures, as well as in diagnosing acute inflammatory conditions and necrotic processes, where it exhibits high specificity. At the same time, it, like other acute-phase proteins, is also characterized by nonspecificity (a variety of causes for increased CRP, the multifunctionality of C-reactive protein due to the ability to bind to many ligands), which does not allow using this indicator to differentiate various conditions and establish an accurate diagnosis ( No wonder they called him “two-faced Janus”?). And then, it turns out, it takes part in the formation of atherosclerosis...

On the other hand, the diagnostic search involves many laboratory tests and instrumental diagnostic methods that will help CRP, and the disease will be established.

Video: C-reactive protein in the program “Live Healthy!”