There is no fundamental difference between hsCRP and CRP. It is the same protein and the assay technique essentially the same (turbidimetric immunoassay). hsCRP is just a term for CRP assays with a much lower detection limit which are capable of producing a quantitative result in the range below 3 mg/L. Currently, the routine CRP assays have limits of quantitation that way go below 1 mg/L. So, in theory, a sensitive assay for CRP should give the same results. But, as mentioned above, standardization is an issue that needs to be abswered.

hi..C-reactive protein is the classic acute phase protein in inflammatory reactions.its synthesized by the liver and consists of five identical polypeptide chains that form a five member ring having a 105000 daltons of molecular weight.

complexed crp activates the compliment system beginning with C1q.

CRP then initiates opsonization and phagocytosis of invading cells.the main function is to bind and dotoxify endogenous toxic substances produced as a result of tissue damage.

CRP in the detection of systemic inflammatory process( such as SLE & colitis ulcerosa)

and intrauterine infections with concomitant premature amniorrhexis and also to differentiate between the active and inactive forms of disease with concurrent infection.

HSCRP usd to detect the infections in pediatrics and the risk assesment of coronary heart disease(CHD).many studies shows that its a marker to predict the risk of CHD in healthy persons and as an indicator of recurrent event prognosis.

Hi, I think this article by Rifai et al. ( http://www.clinchem.org/content/52/7/1254.full ) could shed light on this.

In short, the authors point out that distinguishing between cCRP and hsCRP would be unnecessary and confusing.

Regards, Helmuth.

Andrew, my question is about the dif. between cardiophase CRP and high sensitivity CRP.

I have tried several methods that measure hsCRP and the results are not consistent; may be some inconsistent results in the literature are due to differences in methods.

There is no fundamental difference between hsCRP and CRP. It is the same protein and the assay technique essentially the same (turbidimetric immunoassay). hsCRP is just a term for CRP assays with a much lower detection limit which are capable of producing a quantitative result in the range below 3 mg/L. Currently, the routine CRP assays have limits of quantitation that way go below 1 mg/L. So, in theory, a sensitive assay for CRP should give the same results. But, as mentioned above, standardization is an issue that needs to be abswered.

The hsCRP is recognized as a marker of increased cardiovascular risk because it is the proof of the chronic inflammatory reaction, one of the essential process for the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Its use as a cardiovascular risk factor is only relevant as long as no pathological phenomenon causing inflammation in any individual is responsible for an increase in CRP. This requires that the increase in hsCRP, interpreted  with  the normal cut off of hsCRP, is chronically elevated in an individual who also has no cause of increased CRP (eg a mild infection) because  CRP is an extremely sensitive marker of inflammation. All this limits its use.

Regarding the quantification, be certain that the limit of detection of the assay for hsCRP used is very significantly below normal values hsCRP