CRP
CRP = C-reactive protein
OVERVIEW
- discovered in 1930 by studying Streptococcus pneumoniae infection -> named for its ability to bind to the somatic C-polysaccharide of such bacterial
- belongs to the family of pentraxins (calcium dependent ligand-binding plasma proteins)
Normal range
- rapidly synthesised by the liver in proportional response to the inflammatory stimulus
- 90th percentile = 3mg/L
- 99th percentile = 10mg/L
- t1/2 = 20 hours
FUNCTION
- proinflammatory activities
- anti-inflammatory activities
- has calcium-dependent binding properties and biological functions related to innate immune response
Elevated by:
- bacterial infection
- fungal infection
- autoimmune diseases
- organ tissue necrosis
- severe trauma
- surgery
- neoplasia
- acute coronary syndromes (associated with poor prognosis)
- has been looked at also with risk of developing cardiovascular disease – measure of vascular inflammation involved in atherogenesis
CLINICAL USE
- fast
- easy
- monitoring of inflammatory activity
- use like temperature (response to therapy)
- can recognise the onset of nosocomial infection in ICU with serial results
Critical Care
Compendium
Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.
He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.
His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.
On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.
| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC