Urinary tract infection | Causes for increased CRP values

Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infections are among the most common infections in humans and are therefore also the cause of many elevated CRP levels. Especially when typical symptoms such as burning sensation when urinating and pain in the abdomen occur, a urinary tract infection is suspected to be the cause of elevated CRP values. Urinary tract infections restricted to the bladder often only lead to a slight increase in CRP values (up to 10 times the norm).

However, if the inflammation rises up to the kidneys, the CRP can also rise sharply in the course of the disease. Typical signs are flank pain and fever. The worst form of urinary tract infection, urosepsis, can lead to extremely high CRP values (up to 100 times the norm).

Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of the bone’s interior and usually leads to increased CRP levels. In general, however, osteomyelitis is only responsible for a very small proportion of elevated CRP values. This clinical picture should be considered if there are suspicious findings. A pronounced and deep wound infection of the foot in diabetics can serve as an example.

Crohn’s disease ulcerative colitis

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are so-called chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, which can lead to elevated CRP levels, among other things. If typical findings of such a disease such as frequent diarrhea over a long period of time occur, a colonoscopy should be performed if necessary.Whether Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis is present can ultimately only be determined on the basis of the fine-tissue examination of samples from the intestinal mucosa. A colonoscopy is required to obtain these samples. In people with a proven chronic inflammatory bowel disease, an elevated CRP value indicates an increased activity of the disease. However, the evaluation of the laboratory parameter must always be performed in conjunction with other findings such as general well-being, stool frequency and pain.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is one of the most common causes of elevated CRP levels. Especially in western countries, the inflammation of bulges of the colon caused by bacteria is a common clinical picture. Elevated CRP values in combination with symptoms such as pain in the (typically left) lower abdomen and possibly fever should therefore suggest the presence of diverticulitis as a cause.

Mild inflammation usually leads to only slightly increased CRP values. If, on the other hand, a particularly high value is measured, this may indicate a particularly pronounced diverticulitis. If such symptoms are present, it may even be necessary to carry out emergency diagnostics in hospital in order to rule out, for example, intestinal rupture or peritonitis, or at least to detect them in good time.