There are a variety of infection conditions and tissue
damage that can be diagnosed by the b-globulin family
of human proteins. C-Reactive
Protein is one of these major proteins (~ 105,000
Mw) in which the levels increase dramatically in concentration
during many acute phase conditions. The protein is produced
mainly in the liver, and in serum it may be elevated
2000 fold by various inflammatory events. The protein
is so called because of its ability to bind to and be
precipitated by the C-polysaccharide of streptococcus
pneumoniae in the presence of calcium. The molecular
weight of the subunit is around 21,000kD and each subunit
associates in a discoid arrangement composed of five
such units; as portrayed within our LOGO.
The measurement of CRP in serum has important diagnostic
applications for the following disorders:
- Septicemia, Meningitis, other serious infections
- Post surgical tissue trauma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Rheumatic fever
- Skeletal muscle damage
- Myocardial infarction
Research has shown that patients with stable angina
who have high circulating levels of CRP
are at greater risk of experiencing myocardial infarction
and sudden cardiac death. Patients with CRP levels greater
than 3.6mg/L had about a two-fold increase in
their risk of an MI or sudden death compared
to patients with lower levels. A recent study indicates
that men with elevated CRP concentrations had a two-fold
increase in the risk of stroke, a three-fold increase
in the risk of MI, and a four-fold increase in the risk
of developing peripheral vascular disease. Additionally,
baseline CRP concentration is an independent risk factor
for cardiovascular disease among apparently healthy
postmenopausal women. The predictive value of a model
including CRP as a cardiac risk factor is superior to
models using usual risk factors only. CRP predicts vascular
events even among low-risk subgroups of women with no
readily apparent markers for disease.
Studies Indicate that CRP, a Marker for low-grade
inflammation, is also a marker for subsequent cardiovascular
events. |
