What Causes Elevated CRP Levels?

Posted on Mon, 1 Dec 2014

Question: recently i have done some medical test performed at australia and found that my c-reactive protein has been marked as 15.6 mg/dl and range defined as 0-5.0.

Please let me know what does it mean and what precautions, i should do to get this in the range.

thanks.

Answered by Dr. Deepika Patil (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
means inflammation

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome to HealthcareMagic.

Increase in c reactive protein (CRP) is a non specific marker. It means this doesn't increase in particular disease. It may increase in any inflammation or infection in body like abscess, tuberculosis , rheumatoid arthritis and many others.

CRP is a normal body protein which is secreted more in order to fight the infection or inflammation.

So it is not taken as diagnostic. But high CRP indicates some inflammation in body which needs to be found out. I suggest you to consult your doctor and get evaluated to find out the exact cause of raise in CRP.

Once it is diagnosed and treated CRP will come to normal by itself. Control of the disease is needed. There is no specific treatment to reduce CRP level.

Hope I have answered your query. If any further queries are there I would love to help.

Regards
Dr.Deepika Patil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepika Patil (4 minutes later)

thanks for the quick answer, i wanted to find out is this related to the heart diseases by any means? as my doctor also told me the same what you have mentioned in your answer but suggested me to do urine test again to find out if there is any infection present? but i would like to know if this relates to heart issue any how?

Answered by Dr. Deepika Patil (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
could be related

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Yes raised CRP level is seen in atherosclerosis plain or atherosclerosis causing coronary artery disease.

In initial period of starting of atherosclerosis also there may be raised CRP levels . If the condition not controlled it may proceed to block.

Atherosclerosis is deposition of fat(lipid) in the artery wall causing slowly blockage.

Hope I have answered your query. If any further queries are there I would love to help.

Regards
Dr.Deepika Patil

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar