What does C-reactive protein (CRP) measure?

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. When there's an inflammatory process occurring in the body, such as with infections, autoimmune diseases, or chronic inflammatory conditions, the level of CRP increases. This makes CRP a valuable biomarker for assessing the presence and severity of inflammation. It helps clinicians gauge the inflammatory response in neonates and is particularly useful in neonatal intensive care settings for evaluating conditions such as sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and other inflammatory diseases.

In contrast, while white blood cell counts can also provide information about inflammation or infection, they do not specifically measure the inflammatory response. Additionally, CRP is not specific to viral infections, as it can be elevated in both bacterial and viral infections. Lastly, while CRP levels can inform clinicians about the presence of inflammation, they do not directly assess the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments; instead, they are part of the overall assessment that may include monitoring clinical signs and symptoms alongside other laboratory results.