Definition

A protein that is made by the liver when there is inflammation or tissue damage in the body. CRP levels are usually low or not detectable in the blood of healthy people. A high level of CRP in the blood may be a sign of certain conditions, including cancer, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Increased levels of CRP may also signal a high risk of heart attack or stroke. Measuring the level of CRP 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 C-reactive protein.