C-reactive protein

A substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein that increases in concentration in the blood during inflammatory processes. Measuring CRP levels can help diagnose and monitor conditions that cause inflammation, such as infections, autoimmune diseases, and chronic inflammatory conditions, and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) tests are also used to assess cardiovascular disease risk. This test is particularly useful for healthcare providers in identifying and managing inflammatory conditions and assessing cardiovascular risk in patients.