We are faced with various health problems throughout our lives. As a result, when we apply to the health institution to be evaluated by a specialist physician, our further evaluation is made with various examinations. Among these examinations, the CRP blood test is one of the most frequently used tests, especially in inflammatory diseases.
What is CRP?
C-reactive protein, or CRP for short, is the evaluation of various health problems. It is a protein molecule measured in the blood, which can provide important data in the diagnosis and diagnosis. Our body; During its healthy development, it has been programmed to react against all other foreign substances by recognizing and learning the molecules that make up its own structure. As a result of this reaction, inflammatory reactions develop and the foreign molecule is removed or eliminated from the body.
What is CRP Height?
During the inflammatory reaction in our body, various physiological mechanisms are activated depending on the type of foreign substance that is reacted to. For example, the body temperature is raised to distinguish a viral infection, or in a bacterial infection on the skin, the vessels expand so that more immune system elements can reach the area, causing the area to become red. Particularly in inflammatory conditions, these molecules, the amount of which increases or decreases significantly in the blood, are called acute phase reactants. The CRP molecule is also among the acute phase reactants, the amount of which increases in the inflammatory state.
The increase in the amount of acute phase reactants such as CRP initiates the process of various changes in the inflammation area with symptoms such as increase in body temperature, decrease in appetite, weakness-fatigue. Acute phase reactants such as CRP are generally produced in the liver and released into the blood. Accordingly, when liver damage occurs at various levels, acute phase reactants and d A decrease in the amount of CRP can be observed with the event.
In addition, the CRP molecule also has important functions in the immune system. At the beginning of the elements that undertake serious tasks in the elimination of foreign organisms in our body, there is a protein family called complement, which consists of a certain number of molecules. When the CRP molecule increases in the blood, it acts as a bridge to which the complement proteins can bind by binding to the foreign cells entering the body and contributes to the elimination of foreign organisms by activating the complements. CRP value lies between 0 – 0.5 mg/L. However, in order for the value measured in the CRP assay to be meaningful in terms of disease, the level of CRP in the blood should be measured above 5 – 10 mg/L.
What is CRP Turbidimetric?
Curiosity here. Another question asked is “What is CRP turbidimetric?” is the question. Turbidimetry; It is the process of calculating the amount of a chemical molecule in a solution based on its ability to absorb light as a result of exposing it to light of a known wavelength. Therefore, what is expressed as CRP (turbidimetric) is the measurement method of CRP. Since each examination is measured with the most appropriate method in clinical laboratories, the CRP molecule is examined with the help of turbidimetry.
Why does CRP rise?
In general terms, an inflammatory reaction (inflammation) develops in the body. . Since inflammation can develop for a variety of reasons, elevated CRP does not indicate a single disease. For this reason, it is very important to thoroughly examine and diagnose the underlying cause in people with elevated CRP, in order to apply the right treatment.
The following health problems may increase the CRP value measured in the blood:
- Infections: Caused by all kinds of microorganisms CRP value may increase as a result of infections. In this sense, the body's body such as flu, EBV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, dysentery, pneumonia, throat inflammation, conjunctivitis CRP elevation is seen in viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections that develop in any part of the body.
- Heart attack: Researches; indicates that long-term high CRP increases the risk of having a heart attack. In addition, vascular occlusion that causes a heart attack increases the CRP value during the crisis as it initiates an inflammatory reaction in that region. An increase is seen.
- Cancer: Since there is a malignant tumor occurring in any part of the body, the body initiates an inflammatory reaction in order to eliminate tumor cells, so CRP elevation may also develop.
- Autoimmune diseases: In autoimmune diseases in which it perceives its own cells as a threat and attacks its own cells, CRP elevation is seen because widespread inflammation develops.
- Low risk in people with CRP value of 1 – 2.9 mg/L,
- CRP value over 3 mg/L There is a medium risk in people measured
- There is a high risk of cardiovascular disease in people with a CRP value above 10 mg/L.
What Should Be Done with High CRP?
Every detected CRP elevation does not indicate the presence of a serious disease. In this sense, a simple cold can also increase CRP; CRP value may also increase due to a serious underlying infection. For this reason, detailed disease history questioning and detailed physical examination performed by a specialist physician are of great importance in the definitive diagnosis. If the physician deems it necessary, he may refer to additional blood tests and imaging methods to confirm the diagnosis. Appropriate treatment of the disease detected as a result of all these evaluations is planned.
If the CRP elevation is due to an infection, the infectious agent is detected by various microbiological methods and appropriate drug therapy is started. While antibiotic treatment is applied in bacterial infections, antiviral treatment or symptomatic treatments may be preferred depending on the agent in viral infections. However, in the presence of CRP that does not decrease with antibiotics, it can be thought that various complications such as the presence of an antibiotic-resistant organism or abscess formation may develop. In this case, the most appropriate antibiotic is selected by applying an antibiotic resistance test or a specific treatment method for the complication such as draining the abscess is applied.
The underlying cause may be various causes such as autoimmune disease, heart attack or stroke. Since it can be caused by eps, appropriate drug or surgical treatment is performed for them. The CRP value will decrease day by day as the treatment becomes successful. For this reason, it may be necessary to measure the CRP value intermittently to measure the success of the treatment. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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