Inflammation is your body's natural response to injury or infection. It is a vital part of the healing process. However, chronic, low-grade inflammation can be harmful and is linked to numerous health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. Laboratory tests can measure markers of inflammation in the blood, providing insights into your body's immune response and overall inflammatory status.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation. A high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) test can detect even low levels of inflammation and is often used to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease. Elevated CRP levels indicate that there is inflammation somewhere in the body, but it does not pinpoint the exact location or cause. It could be due to an infection, an autoimmune flare-up, or chronic conditions like obesity.
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), often called a "sed rate," is another common test for inflammation. It measures how quickly red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube over a specific period. In the presence of inflammation, certain proteins in the blood cause the red blood cells to clump together and settle more rapidly, resulting in a higher ESR. Like CRP, ESR is a non-specific marker of inflammation and is often used to monitor the activity of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.