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High Sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) High Sensitivity or Cardio C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) is a marker of inflammation that may be used for determining the potential risk level for cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes. It is often ordered along with Lipid Tests, and is considered by many to be significant in predicting cardiac risk when used in conjunction with these tests. Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen) or statins may help reduce inflammation and therefore reduce CRP levels in blood. Because the hsCRP test can serve as an indication of inflammation, it is important that the patient be in a healthy state prior to testing. Any recent illness, tissue injury, infection, or other general inflammation will raise the amount of CRP and give a falsely elevated estimate of risk. Women on hormone replacement therapy have also been shown to have elevated hsCRP levels, suggesting that this test may be useful in predicting future cardiovascular events. Because the high sensitivity CRP and the non-high sensitivity CRP test measure the same molecule, for people with chronic inflammation, such as arthritis, the predictive value of hsCRP is not meaningful.
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