hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP)
Understanding hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP)
What is hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP)?
An hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP) is a blood test that measures the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the bloodstream. It derives its name from its greater sensitivity to CRP levels than standard CRP tests. CRP is a marker of inflammation produced by the liver in response to various stimuli, including infection, tissue injury, and inflammation.
An hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP) test has greater sensitivity and can detect even low levels of CRP in the bloodstream. This allows for a more precise assessment of inflammation, particularly in individuals at low to moderate cardiovascular risk. This test helps assess the risk of cardiovascular disease, monitor inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, and assess inflammation in individuals with autoimmune disorders or chronic infections.
Higher hs-CRP levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke. Your doctor may recommend the hs-CRP test if you have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease. The test is used with other risk factors, such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure, to assess overall cardiovascular risk and guide preventive interventions.
In addition to cardiovascular risk assessment, the hs-CRP test monitors inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and inflammatory bowel disease. Changes in hs-CRP levels over time may indicate disease activity or response to treatment.
No fasting is required for this test. You can eat and drink normally as per your routine. Your doctor will also examine your results based on age, diet, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other factors. Narrate your complete medical history to help them correlate your clinical and laboratory findings. The results will help the doctor determine your medical condition and formulate your treatment plan.
What is hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP) used for?
An hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP) test is done to:
- Evaluate your risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke.
- Check for bacterial or viral infections if symptoms include fever, chills, redness, swelling, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, and/or rapid heart rate.
- Detect and monitor the flare-ups of autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), etc.
- Assess the treatment efficacy of chronic inflammatory conditions.
- Check for sepsis, a serious life-threatening medical emergency resulting from the body's extreme response to an infection.
What does hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP) measure?
An hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP) test is a state-of-the-art biochemical marker to predict potential risks of future diseases. This test is more sensitive than the standard CRP test and can also detect lower CRP levels in the blood. Its accuracy in predicting cardiovascular issues, autoimmune disorders, and other health issues makes it an excellent test to detect asymptomatic conditions with limited diagnosis.
Interpreting hsCRP (High Sensitive CRP) results
Interpretations
A desirable blood level of Hs-CRP is less than 1 mg/ml.
Low risk: less than 1.0 mg/L
Average risk: 1.0 to 3.0 mg/L
High risk: above 3.0 mg/L
Above 10 mg/mL: indicates acute inflammation