Can someone explain what CRP is?

[KatyMac]

And what constitutes a high level?

It's to do with a chest infection btw

is it this?

another one from the good Google!

Yep - but I still don't understand it

ok, well, it reads to me like a test to show if your body has an infection. It's not a test for a specific illness. It is produced by the liver and a high level means infection somewhere in the body. Some sort of illness.

it points out that pregnancy or the pill can cause a high result.

Although it is not a test FOR any illness, a high level can indicate several things, each of which would then be tested for.

DH (who is definitely not PG or on the pill) has a very high one

Thanks Hecate

I am trying to find out what levels are high - iyswim

bump

I nursed a patient with a CRP of 460 but that was very high and he was very sick. It is C reactive protein and becomes raised in infection particular. Think normal is up to 5 or 10 IIRC

it is a marker of inflammation and infection. would typically be up in an infection. depends on the lab, but normal is often

122 - the consultant wrote an ! after it (which is why I am worried)

I am absolutely NO expert. But I have my CRP (C Reactive Protein) tested regularly because I have a form of arthritis and I believe (along with other tests) it is an indicator of inflammation. It can be up in an infection, or from inflammation due to other causes. Mine quite often hits 40 I think and that is when I'm given steroid injections so I'm guessing it's meant to be lower than that?? But as I say I only have my own very limited experience. YOu can always phone your GP or a nurse at the practice and ask them to explain.

that is high, but not horrifyingly. is he on antibiotics?

He has recurring chest infections and is being see by Papworth

I think he has Haemoptysis & he went on AB's the day the blood was taken

No that's wrong he has that but it's caused by haemophilus influenzae

a crp of 122 would not be surprising in haemophilus, and as he is already on antibiotics i don't think you need to worry.

can't come up with a reason for the ! unbless it's a "we still haven't sorted this out for you" one.

(clearly i am scraping the barrel for an explanation for the !)

hth

He has been getting steadily worse over the last 3-5 yrs & they reckon it will take 2yrs r so to cure him

It all sounds a bit odd to me