The hs-CRP test measures the level of C-reactive protein in the blood, indicating inflammation and potential risk for cardiovascular disease. Results show low, intermediate, or high risk levels and can be done alongside cholesterol tests for a more complete assessment. Recommended for patients 55 and older or at risk for heart disease.
When there is inflammation in a person’s body, their blood has a higher level of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP). A standard CRP test measures the level of this protein in the blood, and a high sensitivity CRP test (hs-CRP) is used to measure this level even when it is low. Inflammation or swelling of the arteries is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and an hs-CRP test can help doctors determine the potential for heart problems in a patient.
Inflammation is the body’s normal response to certain adverse conditions, including injury, fever, and infection. It also plays a key role in the progression and initiation of cardiovascular disease. Inflammation of the arteries has been linked to conditions such as heart attacks, strokes and peripheral arterial disease. The presence of CRP in the blood could also indicate an increased risk of restenosis, which is the closure of an artery that has been treated with angioplasty.
An hs-CRP test, also called an hs-CRP test, measures levels of C-reactive protein per liter of blood, and the results are used to assess a patient’s risk of cardiovascular disease. A patient who has less than 1 milligram of CRP per liter of blood is considered to be at low risk for cardiovascular disease. A level between 1.0 and 2.9 milligrams per liter of blood is considered a sign of intermediate risk, and a test result showing 3 milligrams or more per liter of blood is a sign that the patient is at high risk for cardiovascular disease.
The hs-CRP test is a relatively simple and widely available test and is typically done at the time of a blood test for cholesterol. Although cholesterol tests, which measure levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the blood, are helpful in determining heart disease risk, hs-CRP tests provide information additional information that cannot be gleaned from lipid testing alone. Healthcare experts recommend the hs-CRP test for patients 55 years of age and older and younger patients considered at risk for heart disease. The body’s CRP levels can be temporarily raised by things like infections and illnesses, so patients are discouraged from being tested while injured or ill.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
