Inflammation
C-reactive protein
A protein your liver makes within hours of inflammation starting anywhere in the body.
Unit mg/LTypical adult range < 5 mg/L
What it is
A protein your liver makes within hours of inflammation starting anywhere in the body.
Why it matters
It is a fast, general alarm, and it is also what tells you whether a ferritin reading can be trusted.
Reading the number
It says that something is inflamed, never what. A single high value most often reflects a recent infection or injury rather than anything chronic.
What moves it
recent infectioninjury or surgeryrecent intense exerciseexcess weightsmoking
Read alongside
When to raise it
Worth discussing a raised value that persists once you are well again.
Also known as
On a report in another language.
A lab report names this analyte in its own language. Vitals Vault recognises each of these and files them all under C-reactive protein.
PCRProteína C ReativaCRVC-reaktiivne valkCRPProteína C Reactiva
Catalog entry last updated 2026-08-27. Browse all 165 metrics.