What is the difference between CRP AND CRP-hs?

Posted by Doctor Tran Thi Huyen Trang - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a liver-produced glycoprotein characterized by precipitation with pneumococcal C-polysaccharide. This protein is not normally produced. In the presence of acute inflammation, body tissue is destroyed causing the release of interleukins 1 and 6 that stimulate the production of this protein and cause a rapid increase in serum CRP levels (hence this protein also known as reactive protein). of the acute phase). Once the acute inflammation is over, CRP rapidly disappears. Therefore, CRP is considered as a marker reflecting the activation of the systemic inflammatory response. C-reactive protein is nonspecific and its levels are elevated in all inflammatory conditions.
Normally CRP will increase within 6 hours of inflammation so doctors can identify inflammation early and provide timely treatment.

There are 2 types of C-Reactive Protein tests:
Standard C-Reactive Proteins (Standard CRP): Used to evaluate advanced inflammation. High-sensitivity CRP [hs-CRP]: This is considered a marker of low-grade vascular inflammation. The conventional CRP test measures a wide range, so it is often used to check for early inflammation and infection. However, it is less sensitive at low range, CRP-hs test can detect protein at lower concentration (due to more sensitive), which makes it more effective than conventional CRP test method in diagnosis. predict the risk of cardiovascular disease in a healthy person.

CRP is indicated to evaluate the extent and progression of the inflammatory response:
- Check for postoperative infection: CRP levels usually increase about 2 - 6 hours after surgery and will decrease on the day 3 after surgery. If elevated CRP levels persist for more than 3 days after surgery, a new infection may have developed.
- Identify and detect bacterial infections and inflammatory diseases such as lymphoma, diseases of the immune system (lupus), intestinal inflammation and bleeding, rheumatoid arthritis, bone infections ( osteomyelitis ), pelvic inflammatory disease...
- Assess response to treatment, especially cancer treatment or infection treatment. CRP levels will rise rapidly and fall back to normal rapidly if the patient responds well to treatment.
CRP-hs indicated for cardiovascular risk assessment

CRP to assess inflammation has a normal value < 5 mg/L. CRP will increase if the patient has an infection. If the CRP is high and down, it means the inflammation is reduced, the patient is progressing in a good direction.
CRP-hs to assess cardiovascular disease risk has a normal value < 0.3 mg/dL
Low cardiovascular risk: CRP less than 1 mg/l Moderate cardiovascular risk: CRP 1 - 3 mg/ l High cardiovascular risk: CRP > 3mg/l People with a higher CRP-hs have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and those with a lower value have a lower risk. Patients with high-normal CRP-hs results were 1.5 to 4 times more likely to have a heart attack than those with CRP-hs in the lower end of the normal range.
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