What is CRP?
CRP is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation anywhere in the body. It rises rapidly within hours of an inflammatory stimulus and falls quickly when the cause resolves.
Standard CRP and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) are different tests. Standard CRP detects significant inflammation (infections, flares); hs-CRP measures very low-level chronic inflammation and is used to assess long-term cardiovascular risk. The same protein is measured — just at different sensitivities.
Why might CRP be high?
Elevated CRP indicates there is active inflammation or infection somewhere in the body. Significantly raised values (above 100 mg/L) often point to bacterial infection; milder elevations have many causes including viral infection, autoimmune conditions, and injury.
This information is educational. A single out-of-range result is rarely the whole picture — a healthcare professional can interpret your numbers alongside your overall health and history.
Context questions that matter
- →Was this result slightly or clearly outside the reference range?
- →Were related markers also high or low?
- →Is this new compared with previous tests?
- →Could recent illness, exercise, fasting, alcohol, supplements, or medication affect it?
- →Do you have symptoms that should be discussed with a clinician?
Markers often reviewed together with CRP
Clinicians rarely look at one number in isolation. These markers usually accompany CRP on a inflammation panel and help put the result in context.
Lifestyle considerations
- •Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and following a Mediterranean-style diet are associated with lower hs-CRP over time
Questions to ask your doctor
- →Could recent infection, injury, exercise, or inflammation explain this high CRP result?
- →Should this be interpreted with WBC, ESR, the type of CRP (regular vs hs-CRP), or other inflammation markers?
- →Should it be rechecked after an acute illness or symptom flare has resolved?
Don't guess from one flagged result.
Start with the most relevant panel and see how your markers fit together in plain English.
Frequently asked questions
What does high CRP mean?
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Elevated CRP indicates there is active inflammation or infection somewhere in the body. Significantly raised values (above 100 mg/L) often point to bacterial infection; milder elevations have many causes including viral infection, autoimmune conditions, and injury.
What is CRP?
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CRP is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation anywhere in the body. It rises rapidly within hours of an inflammatory stimulus and falls quickly when the cause resolves.
Can recent infection or injury affect this result?
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Yes. Inflammation markers can rise with infection, injury, surgery, intense exercise and active inflammatory conditions. They are non-specific by themselves and always need clinical context.
Should CRP be compared with WBC or ESR?
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Often yes. CRP (regular or high-sensitivity), ESR and the WBC differential together help show whether a value fits a broader inflammation pattern, an infection pattern, or something else entirely.
What supports healthy CRP levels?
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Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and following a Mediterranean-style diet are associated with lower hs-CRP over time