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CRP Information Page

  

 

What is CRP ?

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance found in the blood which can be measured on a simple blood test. It is a marker for inflammation and has been found to be helpful in determining heart attack risk.  The higher it is the more inflammation there is in the body. Inflammation is one of the steps that can lead to damage to the walls of the arteries and can result in heart attack or stroke. Having an elevated CRP does not mean that the arteries are necessarily damaged, but it does mean that you are at a greater risk than someone with a normal CRP.

CRP range

0.0 - 0.2    Lowest Risk
0.7 - 1.1    Low Risk
1.2 - 1.9    Moderate Risk
2.0 - 3.8    High Risk
3.9 - and above    Highest Risk

 

* Note - Other inflammatory processes such as arthritis and infections can sometimes elevate the CRP and cause confusion when interpreting the results. Also, while the highest numbers on the table are values to "3.9 and above" it is not unheard of to see CRP's of 20 or 30. These numbers are not cause for alarm but should be discussed with your physician.

 

What should I do if my CRP is elevated ?

 While common sense would seem to imply that it would be a good idea to lower your CRP, as of this moment, there is no scientific proof that you can improve your chances of avoiding a heart attack or any other disease by lowering your CRP.  That being said, it has been known for some time that anti-inflammatory drugs can indeed improve your chances of avoiding heart disease and strokes. The best known example is aspirin. Numerous studies have shown the beneficial effects of aspirin in preventing these diseases.  In addition, many of the common cholesterol lowering drugs known as the "statins" ( Zocor, Lipitor etc.) also help bring down CRP. While this is a nice side benefit for those who are taking statins for high cholesterol, they can not yet be recommended for those with high CRP but normal cholesterol levels. The latest recommendation states that those individuals with a cardiac risk of 10% ( See "Calculate your cardiac risk" below) or more might benefit by having CRP levels determined. If the CRP is found to be elevated, I use that information much as I would use a family history of early heart disease. I can't change your family history, but I will be more aggressive about treating your high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, and any other modifiable risk factors that you have. Likewise, we don't directly try to lower CRP but we will be much more agressive with your other risk factors.

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