Biomarkers in the critically ill patient: C-reactive protein.

Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase protein, are elevated in many inflammatory conditions and are used to detect and follow disease in many fields of medicine, including rheumatology, gastroenterology, and cardiology. CRP concentrations are also used in critically ill patients, notably because they are increased during the inflammatory response to infection, that is, sepsis. However, CRP is not specific for sepsis, and serum CRP concentrations need to be interpreted in the context of a full clinical examination and the presence of other signs and symptoms of sepsis.