Meaning & use
C-reactive protein
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable or uncountablemedicaltechnical
A protein made by the liver that increases in the blood when there is inflammation in the body.
Grammar: Often used without an or an: a test for C-reactive protein. The plural C-reactive proteins is rare and mainly technical.
Patterns
- a C-reactive protein test
- levels of C-reactive protein
- C-reactive protein is elevated
The doctor ordered a C-reactive protein test to check for inflammation.
Her C-reactive protein level was high, so the doctor ran more tests.
C-reactive protein can rise with infections, injuries, and some long-term diseases.
Word forms
| plural | C-reactive proteins |
|---|
Common combinations
- C-reactive protein level
- A high C-reactive protein level often points to inflammation somewhere in the body.
- C-reactive protein test
- The clinic offers a C-reactive protein test as part of its health check.
- elevated C-reactive protein
- Elevated C-reactive protein can be a sign of infection.
- measure C-reactive protein
- Doctors measure C-reactive protein to see how active an illness is.
Synonyms and how they differ
- CRP
- The standard abbreviation; use it after you have written the full name once.
Word family
- CRP abbreviation
- Short form of C-reactive protein, common in medical notes and test results.
Commonly confused: C-reactive protein or creatinine?
C-reactive protein vs creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product tested to check kidney function, not inflammation. The names sound somewhat similar but measure very different things.
Practice
A high level of C-reactive protein in the blood usually suggests ___.
Choose one answer.
C-reactive protein rises when the body has inflammation. It does not directly measure blood sugar, bone damage, or vitamin levels.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “C-reactive protein”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.