CRP

Question 0

Where is CRP produced?

Answer 0

Liver

Question 1

What is CRP?

Answer 1

An acute phase protein

Question 2

What causes CRP to be produced?

Answer 2

Microorganisms have cell wall products which can float around and activate macrophages and monocytes which release cytokines
Interleukins 1 and 6 and tumour necrosis factor
Circulate in the blood to the liver, stimulating hepatocytes to produce acute phase proteins including CRP a

Question 3

What does CRP a do?

Answer 3

It is an opsonins

Question 4

Why is CRP useful?

Answer 4

Up to 109 fold increase
Rapid production within hours of inflammation
Easy to measure

Question 5

What can raise CRP?

Answer 5

Infection
Trauma
Surgery
Cancer
Burns
Tissue infarction
Inflammation

Question 6

What else can happen in the acute phase?

Answer 6

Fever
Hormone secretion eg cortisol
Blood changes
Metabolic changes 
Many more

Question 7

What is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate?

Answer 7

Rate at which RBCs sediment in 1hr
During inflammation, get increased fibrinogen, causing RBCs to stick together so that they settle faster
Causes ESR to be increased