C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein produced by the liver in response to injury or tissue damage. It has been assayed for many years as a non-specific marker of acute inflammatory diseases, infections, neoplastic diseases, and other conditions where inflammation occurs. It is still assayed in this manner as a marker of inflammation by immunoassay methods that are sensitive to concentrations of 5-20 mg/L.
Atherosclerosis is a subclinical chronic inflammatory condition. Highly sensitive measurements of CRP have been developed to detect this protein in lower levels that are sensitive to 0.5-10.0 mg/L. This assay is referred to as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
