Which statement about C-reactive protein is true?

Which statement about C-reactive protein is true?

• A. It rises in inflammation and is a negative acute-phase protein
• B. It decreases in inflammation
• C. It rises in inflammation and is a positive acute-phase protein
• D. It is unaffected by inflammation

Answer: (C)

Inflammation drives the liver to churn out acute-phase proteins, with C-reactive protein acting as a positive acute-phase reactant. Its level rises rapidly in response to inflammatory signals, especially interleukin-6, making it one of the most sensitive markers of inflammation. It starts to increase within hours, peaks within a day or two, and then declines as the inflammation resolves. This contrasts with negative acute-phase proteins, which fall during inflammation, and with proteins that remain unchanged. So the statement that best fits is that CRP rises in inflammation and is a positive acute-phase protein.

Inflammation drives the liver to churn out acute-phase proteins, with C-reactive protein acting as a positive acute-phase reactant. Its level rises rapidly in response to inflammatory signals, especially interleukin-6, making it one of the most sensitive markers of inflammation. It starts to increase within hours, peaks within a day or two, and then declines as the inflammation resolves. This contrasts with negative acute-phase proteins, which fall during inflammation, and with proteins that remain unchanged. So the statement that best fits is that CRP rises in inflammation and is a positive acute-phase protein.