What does an elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) indicate?
Disease description:
Last week, I went for a medical checkup due to illness, and the doctor mentioned something about a high level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). I didn't quite understand it. I want to ask the doctor, what does an elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level indicate?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) typically indicates the presence of acute inflammatory infections, tissue damage, cardiovascular disease, rheumatologic and immunologic diseases, or other non-infectious conditions.
1. Acute inflammatory infections: When the body is infected by pathogens such as bacteria or viruses, hs-CRP levels rise rapidly, serving as a marker of the body's inflammatory response.
2. Tissue damage: Tissue injury caused by trauma, surgery, or tumors can also lead to elevated hs-CRP levels, with the concentration reflecting the extent of tissue damage.
3. Cardiovascular disease: In cardiac conditions such as myocardial infarction, hs-CRP levels may increase, with changes in its levels correlating with the severity of the condition.
4. Rheumatologic and immunologic diseases: In diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, hs-CRP levels can rise during periods of active disease.
