Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (852 page)

   Pancreatitis

   Postsurgery

   Burns, trauma

   Leukemia: fever, blast crisis, or cytotoxic drugs

   Cigarette smoking

   Hormone therapy, estrogen, and progesterone

Decreased In

   Exercise and weight loss

   Moderate alcohol consumption

   Drugs (e.g., statins, fibrates, niacin)

   Limitations

   Race and gender differences affect CRP levels. One study indicates that black patients have higher levels than white patients and women have higher levels than men.

Suggested Readings
Khera A, McGuire DK, Murphy, et al. Race and gender differences in C-reactive protein levels.
J Am Coll Cardiol.
2005;46:464–469. Pearson TA, George A, Mensah R, et al. Markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Application to clinical and public health practice. A Statement for healthcare professionals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association.
Circulation.
2003;107:499–511.

C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP), SERUM

   Definition

   CRP is a cytokine-induced, acute-phase protein and is useful in the detection and evaluation of infection, tissue injury, and inflammatory disorders. Plasma levels begin increasing within 4–6 hours after initial tissue injury and continue to increase several hundred-folds within 24–48 hours. CRP remains elevated during the acute-phase response and returns to normal with restoration of tissue structure and function. The rise in CRP is exponential, doubling every 8–9 hours. The half-life is <24 hours.