C- reactive protein (CRP value)
The C-reactive protein (abbreviated CRP) is an endogenous protein circulating in the blood plasma, which can be measured at an increased level in tissue damage in the context of various diseases such as infections, rheumatic diseases or tumor diseases. If the CRP value is elevated during blood tests, conclusions can be drawn about diseases or the severity of diseases. CRP is produced by the liver and is a component of the immune system as part of the so-called acute phase proteins.
In short, its task is to attach itself to the membrane surface of bacteria or to membrane components of destroyed cells and thus to make other parts of the immune system aware of it and activate them. Elevated CRP levels in the blood thus indicate that a pathological process is taking place in the body. Unfortunately, however, it is almost impossible to draw any conclusion from this as to exactly what kind of disease is in progress.
For example, CRP can increase in all kinds of inflammatory processes, such as respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, appendicitis or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Crohn’s disease). A moderate increase in the value can even occur in pregnancies, but also in viral infections or parasite infestation. Even heart attacks, blood clots (thromboses) or tissue damage after operations or injuries often result in at least a slight increase in CRP.
If you would like to know how you can lower your CRP value, it should be noted that the C-reactive protein is a very non-specific laboratory parameter. It is therefore primarily used to monitor the course of your disease and to assess its severity. However, CRP is helpful in that it increases before clinical symptoms such as fever occur.
Once the inflammation has subsided, however, it returns to normal values just as quickly. More than slightly elevated CRP values therefore always require clarification. Nevertheless, it does provide some information about the cause of the disease.
Highly elevated values (from 50 mg/l blood serum) indicate a bacterial, slightly elevated (up to 50 mg/l) a viral or other pathological process. The highest values (sometimes well over 100 mg/l) are reached in cases of sepsis (blood poisoning) or also meningitis and pneumonia. The reference value of the CRP value in the blood is in the range of 5 mg/l blood serum or lower.
or CRP value in a cancerous diseaseThe blood cell sedimentation rate (BSR) or simply called blood sedimentation is a non-specific laboratory test for inflammatory processes in the body. The method is based on the continuous lowering of red blood cells (erythrocytes) over time, which is accelerated by cross-linking them, for example by antibodies in the course of an inflammation. The SPA is non-specific mainly because this test cannot determine what the inflammation is due to, nor how severe it is.
Thus a whole range of diseases can lead to an increase in blood sedimentation. The SPA plays an important role in the assessment of autoimmune diseases, sepsis (blood poisoning), chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. On the other hand, a non-standard SPA can also be an indication of sarcoidosis, liver cirrhosis or tumor diseases.
At the same time, the reference values are extremely variable and strongly dependent on age and gender. Even in the literature, some of the information on the standard values varies considerably. However, in the case of those under 50 years of age, these are in the range of about 15mm after one hour for men and under 20mm after one hour for women.
For over 50-year-olds they are around 20mm (men) and 30mm (women). In 5% of all abnormal blood sedimentation, however, no cause is actually found. In addition, the blood sedimentation can also be influenced by taking certain medications or doing competitive sports.
