1. Is hs-CRP specific for predicting heart disease?
Since CRP is a marker of inflammation, its elevation may reflect a low level of inflammation that may manifest in the future in different ways. Most studies to date have focused on heart disease, but new research shows that having CRP in the high normal range may also be associated with other diseases such as colon cancer, complications of diabetes, and obesity.
2. I have had cholesterol tests, but never an hs-CRP test. Why?
The hs-CRP test is fairly new, and experts still don't agree on when and how often this test should be ordered.
3. What is the difference between regular CRP and hs-CRP tests?
Both tests measure the same molecule in the blood. The hs-CRP is for seemingly healthy people to determine their risk of cardiovascular disease. It measures CRP in the range from 0.5 to 10 mg/L. The CRP test is ordered for patients at risk for bacterial or viral infection (such as following surgery) or patients with chronic inflammatory diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis). It measures CRP in the range from 10 to 1000 mg/L.
