C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. It is often measured in blood tests to help detect inflammatory conditions. High levels of CRP can indicate issues like infections, autoimmune diseases, or chronic inflammatory diseases, making it a useful marker for doctors in assessing a patient's health status.
Understanding CRP levels is important because they can provide insight into the presence of inflammation, which is linked to various health problems. By measuring CRP, healthcare providers can evaluate how well the body is responding to treatment or monitor the progress of certain diseases. This makes CRP a valuable tool in both diagnosis and ongoing health management.
In the body, CRP functions as part of the immune response. When there is inflammation, the liver releases CRP into the bloodstream. This protein helps to activate the immune system and promotes healing by marking damaged or infected cells for destruction. However, while CRP is a helpful marker, it does not specify the cause of inflammation, so further testing may be needed to identify the underlying issue.
It is worth noting that while CRP levels can be useful for monitoring inflammation, they can also be affected by other factors, such as infection or chronic diseases. Therefore, CRP results are typically interpreted alongside other clinical information and tests to get a complete picture of a person's health.