What is C-Reactive Protein (CRP)?
CRP can rise quickly during an acute infection or active inflammation and usually falls as recovery occurs. For low-grade inflammation, repeated measurements and trends matter most. Interpretation is always done alongside symptoms and other markers.
Why is C-Reactive Protein (CRP) relevant?
CRP is your early inflammation gauge: it spikes with acute infection and stays mildly elevated in chronic low-grade inflammation — the kind associated with cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. The high-sensitivity variant (hs-CRP) is designed for this low range, making it one of the few routine markers that tell you something about systemic inflammatory state in the absence of symptoms.
How to read C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in context
A single measurement during a cold or after heavy training can be artificially elevated — that is not 'chronic inflammation'. For a reliable picture, measure hs-CRP at least twice, weeks apart, in the absence of infection. A persistent hs-CRP above 1 mg/L in someone without an obvious acute cause warrants attention, especially alongside unfavorable lipids, high ApoB, or adverse metabolic markers.