Definition

A protein that is made by the liver when there is inflammation or tissue damage in the body. C-reactive protein levels are usually low or not detectable in the blood of healthy people. A high level of C-reactive protein in the blood may be a sign of certain conditions, including cancer, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Increased levels of C-reactive protein may also signal a high risk of heart attack or stroke. Measuring the level of C-reactive protein may be done to help diagnose certain diseases, find out how well treatment is working, or determine a person’s risk of developing heart disease. Also called CRP.