Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffC-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein that can be measured in your blood. It appears in higher amounts when there's swelling (inflammation) somewhere in your body. Your doctor may check your C-reactive protein level after surgery or treatment for infections or other medical conditions. A C-reactive protein test can also be used to evaluate your risk of developing coronary artery disease, a condition in which the arteries of your heart are narrowed. Coronary artery disease can eventually lead to a heart attack.
A C-reactive protein test to check for heart disease is not right for everyone. According to the American Heart Association, having a C-reactive protein test isn't recommended for the general population to screen for heart disease risk. And it might not be helpful in determining your heart attack risk, depending on your health and lifestyle choices.
Your C-reactive protein level can be checked with a simple blood test. Some researchers think that by treating people with high C-reactive protein levels, it's less likely they might have a heart attack or stroke.
- Greenland P, et al. ACCF/AHA guideline for assessment of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic adults: A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2010;122:e584.
- Using nontraditional risk factors in coronary heart disease risk assessment. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf09/riskcoronaryhd/coronaryhdrs.htm. Accessed Oct. 4, 2011.
- Morrow DA. C-reactive protein in cardiovascular disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 4, 2011.
- Morrow DA. Screening for cardiovascular disease with C-reactive protein. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 4, 2011.
- hs-CRP. Lab Tests Online. http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hscrp/tab/test#. Accessed Oct. 4, 2011.
- Abd TT, et al. The role of C-reactive protein as a risk predictor of coronary atherosclerosis: Implications from the JUPITER trial. Current Atherosclerosis Reports. 2011;13:154.
- Laboratory reference values. C-reactive protein, high sensitivity values. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. July 2011.
Find Mayo Clinic on