A high CRP (C-reactive protein) level indicates inflammation in the body due to an acute or chronic condition. CRP is a protein made by the liver and sent into the bloodstream. Normally, you have low levels of CRP in your blood, but if you have inflammation in your body, your liver releases more CRP into your bloodstream. High levels of CRP may mean you have a serious health condition that causes inflammation. However, a CRP test cannot show the cause of the inflammation or where it is in your body. Therefore, your healthcare provider will likely order additional tests if your result shows a high CRP level to determine the cause of the inflammation. The following conditions may cause elevated CRP levels:

• Autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, and certain types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Pericarditis, which is inflammation of the lining of the heart
• Infection
• Organ and tissue injury
• Cancer
• Obesity

The most common cause of high CRP levels is a severe infection. The hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) test is more sensitive than a standard CRP test and can find smaller increases in CRP than a standard test can. The hs-CRP test can help show the risk of getting coronary artery disease. Results for an hs-CRP test are usually given as follows:

• Lower risk of heart disease: Less than 2.0 mg/L
• Higher risk of heart disease: Equal to or greater than 2.0 mg/L

It is important to note that CRP levels often go up before you have symptoms of pain or fever and drop down as you recover, so the CRP test is especially useful for tracking infections.