Biochemistry · Cardiac Risk
HS-CRP
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein — a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation used to assess cardiovascular risk, even in apparently healthy individuals.
Inflammation You Cannot Feel — But Can Measure
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is produced by the liver within hours of any inflammatory trigger — infection, injury, or arterial damage. Standard CRP tests detect levels above 5–10 mg/L (useful for acute illness), but High-Sensitivity CRP (HS-CRP) detects levels as low as 0.1 mg/L — a far more sensitive window into the chronic, low-grade arterial inflammation that quietly accelerates atherosclerosis.
The landmark JUPITER trial proved that even people with normal LDL cholesterol but elevated HS-CRP had significantly higher rates of heart attack and stroke — and that statin therapy targeting HS-CRP reduced cardiovascular events. This established HS-CRP as a true independent cardiovascular risk factor, not merely a bystander, changing how cardiologists assess patients who appear "low risk" on standard lipid tests alone.
HS-CRP Cardiovascular Risk Categories
| HS-CRP Level | Cardiovascular Risk | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| < 1.0 mg/L | Low Risk | Low systemic inflammation |
| 1.0–3.0 mg/L | Moderate Risk | Some vascular inflammation |
| > 3.0 mg/L | High Risk | Significant cardiac risk — further evaluation needed |
| > 10 mg/L | Active Infection / Inflammation | Likely acute disease — repeat after recovery |
* For cardiac risk assessment, the test should ideally be done twice 2 weeks apart and averaged, as acute illness raises CRP temporarily.
Who Should Get Tested?
Preparation
No fasting required. Avoid testing during an active infection, cold, or flu — as any illness will elevate CRP and invalidate cardiac risk interpretation. For best cardiac risk assessment, test when you are in your normal, healthy state.
Test Price at Velys Hospital
₹150
Inclusive of collection · Same-day report
Book HS-CRP Test at Velys Hospital
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