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Inflammatory disorders

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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CRP shows an earlier (begins 4-6 hrs), more intense rise than ESR, in any acute inflammatory change. With recovery, disappearance of CRP precedes the return to normal of ESR. If the inflammatory process is suppressed by steroids or salicylates, then the CRP rise disappears.

Possible conditions that may cause a rise in CRP include:

  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • rheumatic fever
  • seronegative arthritides e.g. Reiter's syndrome
  • vasculitic syndromes
  • inflammatory bowel disease:
    • CRP is significantly higher in Crohn's disease than in ulcerative colitis
    • changes in CRP correspond to relapse, remission, and response to therapy in Crohn's disease

Active, severe SLE produces almost no increase in CRP unless there is concurrent infection.

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