>

An In-Depth View of the C-Reactive Protein Test

C-Reactive Protein Test or commonly called CRP Blood test aids in the diagnosis of the presence of inflammation in the body. C-Reactive Protein is a special substance produced by the liver which is generally defined as an acute phase reactant. CRP levels typically rise in response to the existence of inflammation in the body which may be a result of an active or underlying respiratory infection, cancer, heart-related disease, pneumonia or tuberculosis.

What do high levels of CRP indicate?

Elevated levels of CRP are believed to have a correlation with an increased risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. A doctor may also recommend a CRP blood test to a patient who has undergone a surgery and it's essential to map his/her risk of getting a postsurgical infections or to monitor inflammatory diseases such as   

An inflammatory bowel disease,   

Inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid, giant cell arthritis, etc.   

An autoimmune disease such as lupus, etc.

What are the signs of elevated CRP level?

There are no specific signs or symptoms that may indicate high levels of CRP in the blood. They typically depend on the underlying inflammatory condition in the body. An individual with latent tuberculosis will showcase symptoms accordingly. While CRP blood test for cancer may be recommended if an individual showcases symptoms of that cancer type.

What happens during the test?

During a CRP blood test, a small amount of blood is drawn from a vein of the body, usually from the one near the elbow or back of the hand. The sample is collected in special blood sample tubes which are duly labeled and sent to the lab for testing and analysis. A C-Reactive Protein test for babies is similar to that of adults and requires no prior preparation.

Being a simple blood test there aren't any risks involved. But there's a slight chance that a patient may witness complications such as excess bleeding, dizziness or light-headedness or bruising at the point of skin puncture.

What do CRP Blood Test Results indicate?

The clinical unit for measuring C-Reactive Protein level is milligrams of CRP per liter of blood (mg/L). If a test report reads a result less than 1 mg/L, it indicates low risk of developing a cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, reading between 1 and 2.9 mg/L means intermediate risk. While a reading higher than 3 mg/L indicates a high risk of cardiovascular disease. Any reading above 10 mg/L implicates the need to conduct further tests to determine the cause of severe inflammation in the body. Common causes include:-   

lupus, another kind of connective tissue disease, or an autoimmune disease   

osteomyelitis or a bone infection   

cancer, especially lymphoma   

inflammatory bowel disease   

an arthritis flare-up   

tuberculosis   

pneumonia

It's essential to note that CRP levels may also be high in individuals who are on birth control pills or in the second trimester of their pregnancy. Having an infection, an intrauterine device or being overweight can also showcase high levels of CRP in individuals. It is therefore, advised that before getting a CRP blood test done, it's vital to speak to a specialist about your present condition and disclose on-going medications as most medications have a tendency to hamper the test results which in turn can open doors to unknown complications.What does A C-Reactive Protein treatment involve?

Bringing down CRP levels is not the solution to eliminate the chances of reducing the risk of suffering from a cardiovascular, kidney or an autoimmune disease. What's more important is to understand that one must maintain a healthy lifestyle to eliminate the plausible risks. The most effective and reliable CRP test positive treatment involves taking the prescribed medicines on-time, exercising regularly, having a balanced diet and quitting smoking.Who should get a CRP test done?

A standard CRP test is not recommended to every individual as it's not a general screening test. It is recommended or particularly used for the detection of inflammation and significant bacterial infections in an individual's body system. The test is available at all the leading pathology labs and medical centers of the nation. It's also highly reasonable, and its reports are typically made available within 24 hours of submission of the blood sample to the laboratory for testing and analysis.

The author is an active writer and works with a leading diagnostic chain of the nation. He is well aware of different kinds of diseases, infections and conditions that surround the humans, their symptoms, complications and how effectively they can be treated. Her latest detailed analysis of C-Reactive Test for Cancer was highly appreciated by her readers.

Popular Posts