Description

C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the liver. The level of CRP rises when there is inflammation throughout the body. It is one of a group of proteins called acute phase reactants that go up in response to inflammation. The levels of acute phase reactants increase in response to certain inflammatory proteins called cytokines. These proteins are produced by white blood cells during inflammation.

A positive test means you have inflammation in the body. This may be due to a variety of conditions, including:

    Connective tissue disease

     Heart attack Infection

     Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

     Lupus

     Pneumonia

     Rheumatoid arthritis