CRP in clinical use

C-reactive protein is an unspecific marker of inflammation, regardless of the inflammatory stimuli. Despite this fact, CRP determination is a well-established laboratory test for the diagnosis and monitoring of different inflammatory processes, such as discrimination between bacterial and viral infections; identification of post-operative complications; diagnosis and grading of other inflammatory diseases; determination of therapeutic approaches and for monitoring the effect of treatment. New and interesting applications of CRP determination are as risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and for risk evaluation of patients with angina pectoris. The clinical value of CRP is dependent on the combination of a thorough clinical examination and anamnestic history of the patient, and timely performed CRP determinations. The increase in CRP synthesis is, above all, related to the extent and severity of tissue damage. Generally, viral diseases induce only low or moderately increased CRP levels. High CRP levels are nevertheless found in some viral infections. This emphasises the fact that, to be able to draw the right diagnostic conclusions, the CRP result must always be judged in the light of the clinical picture of the patient.