What does it mean when high-sensitivity C-reactive protein is elevated?

Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) refers to CRP levels in the blood exceeding the normal range, which typically indicates the presence of an inflammatory response in the body. Causes of elevated CRP include: 1. Infectious factors: bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections can all lead to increased CRP levels. 2. Non-infectious factors: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as cardiovascular conditions. 3. Diseases such as hypertension may also elevate CRP levels. 4. Other factors: long-term smoking, excessive stress, severe trauma, surgery, and other external factors or physiological changes may stimulate the liver to produce more CRP, resulting in elevated blood CRP levels.