C-reactive protein: Important factor for cardiovascular morbidity and death

C-reactive protein: Important factor for cardiovascular morbidity and death.  C-reactive protein = inflammation? Maybe it was overlooked more!

Studies have found that higher C-reactive protein levels are an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and death.

In addition to its application in acute infections, the clinical significance of C-reactive protein is far more than that.

1 What does C-reactive protein look like?

C-reactive protein (C-reactive protein, CRP) is a cyclic pentameric protein. Its primary structure contains 5 identical subunits, which are combined by non-covalent bonds.

It has remarkable heat resistance and resistance to protease degradation. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is the main stimulator of CRP synthesis.

2 CRP is only a supporting role for cold blood test?

In the hospital, everyone prescribes routine blood tests. Do they all love the attachment of C-reactive protein? It has also been taught that C-reactive protein is synonymous with “inflammation.” Especially in the case of a cold, as shown below.

C-reactive protein increased, OK, indicating that the patient has inflammation.

So, is C-reactive protein really only used for this, with green leaves lining safflower in the end?

3 It’s far better than you think

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein synthesized by the liver, and its content can rise rapidly during the acute inflammatory reaction stage.

C-reactive protein is one of the most important and sensitive markers of the human body’s acute phase response. In addition to its application in acute infections, its clinical significance is far more than these:

1. The “weathervane” of the severity of infection

As an acute phase protein, CRP rises rapidly after myocardial infarction, tissue injury, surgical trauma, radiation injury and other diseases occur within a few hours, and it has a tendency to increase exponentially. The lesions improved and quickly returned to normal.

2. The “compass” that distinguishes bacterial and viral infections

CRP in viral infections is mostly normal, while CRP in sepsis rises rapidly, and it takes at least 48 hours to rely on blood culture, and the positive rate is not high.

3. Tell you how far acute pancreatitis has progressed

CRP is used to assess the severity of acute pancreatitis. When CRP is higher than 250mg/L, it suggests extensive necrotizing pancreatitis. Laboratory Medicine Network

4. “Forecaster” for cancer patients

Most patients with malignant tumors have elevated CRP. For example, the combined detection of CRP and AFP can be used for the differential diagnosis of liver cancer and benign liver diseases. CRP determination is of positive significance for tumor treatment and prognosis. CRP increased before surgery and decreased after surgery, and its response is not affected by radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and corticosteroid therapy, which is helpful for clinical evaluation of tumor progression.

5. It can also predict the occurrence of cardiovascular disease

Studies have found that higher C-reactive protein levels are an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and death.

A health survey of physicians composed of 1086 apparently healthy smoking and non-smokers showed that the risk of first myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke in people with high CRP is three times and two times that of people with low CRP, respectively. After adjusting for other risk factors such as BMI, diabetes, hypertension, and family history of coronary heart disease, C-reactive protein was still significantly related to the first myocardial infarction or stroke after hyperlipidemia.

4 How does C-reactive protein count as abnormal?

C-reactive protein reference value: ≤10mg/L

(source:internet, reference only)

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