C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

CRP is an acute-phase protein, produced exclusively in the liver. Serum concentration of CRP increases significantly in cases of both infectious and noninfectious inflammation, of tissue damage and necrosis and in the presence of malignant tumours. CRP is present in the active stages of inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s syndrome, psoriatic arthropathy, systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The CRP level increases dramatically following microbial infections, and this can be particularly helpful for the diagnosis and monitoring of bacterial septicemia in neonates and other immunocompromised patients at risk.