|
The diagnostic role of CRP measurement
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a non-specific acute phase protein produced by the liver in response to tissue injury, infection, and inflammation. Following an acute event circulating levels may increase up to 100 fold. Until recently CRP has been used only for the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory states such as those associated with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and anklyosing spondilitis.
Recently there has been a growing interest in the serum CRP level where the inflammatory condition is more subtle, for example in patients with circulatory problems.In patients with either stable or unstable angina CRP levels above 3 mg/L indicate an increased likelihood of progression to myocardiac infarction. And in general, in these patients a higher serum CRP level is associated with an increased risk of dying from heart disease - and the higher the level - the greater the risk. In patients with established angina it is preferable to see a CRP level less than 1.5 mg/L so accurate measurement of over this range might be useful to identify patients that would benefit from additional anti-inflammatory treatment.
The diagnostic kit
The Kalon High Sensitivity CRP ELISA accurately measures serum CRP concentrations over the range 1mg/L to 100mg/L using a 1:1000 dilution of serum, although lower concentrations can be measured by using a lower serum dilution for example 1:100. Affinity purified antibodies are employed both to coat the microtitre plate and as tracer where they are labeled with alkaline phosphatase. Standards are provided prediluted and the concentration of CRP can be calculated by manual construction of a standard curve or with the aid of four parameter logistic fit software.
The Kalon CRP kit has been successfully used in studies of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
Click here to see PDF file of Kit Insert
Click here for a list of references regarding the Kalon CRP kit.
|