Clinical Applicability Of C Reactive Protein Testing – A Review Of Current Research

Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a plasmatic protein of the pentraxin family and is often proposed as the solution of various clinical predicament. This is a protein of the acute phase, synthesised by hepatocytes. Its production is stimulated mainly by interleukin 6, interleukin 1 β, and tumour necrosis factor α in response to infection or tissue inflammation. Since its identification in 1930, C reactive protein has been studied as a screening device for inflammation, a marker for disease activity, and as a diagnostic adjunct. This review will largely focus on our current understanding of the CRP measurement as a diagnostic tool for finding clinical infections, monitoring effects of treatment, outcome, and early detection of relapse of the disease, and hence can be a useful as a diagnostic aid in determining disease progression.