From the Research
In reactive arthritis, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are typically elevated, often ranging from 10-100 mg/L during active disease, as seen in similar inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis 1. This elevation reflects the systemic inflammatory response that characterizes this condition. CRP is an acute phase reactant produced by the liver in response to inflammation, and its levels correlate with disease activity in inflammatory arthritis. The degree of elevation can vary significantly between patients, with higher levels generally indicating more severe inflammation. As the arthritis improves with treatment, CRP levels should gradually decrease, making it a useful marker for monitoring treatment response. However, some patients with clinically evident reactive arthritis may have only mildly elevated or even normal CRP levels, so this test should be interpreted alongside clinical findings and other laboratory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) 2. Regular monitoring of CRP can help guide treatment decisions, with the goal of achieving normalization (less than 5 mg/L) as the inflammation resolves. Key points to consider in the interpretation of CRP levels in reactive arthritis include:
- Elevated CRP levels are associated with increased disease activity and inflammation
- CRP levels can vary significantly between patients and may not always correlate with clinical symptoms
- Other laboratory markers, such as ESR, should be considered in conjunction with CRP levels to guide treatment decisions
- The goal of treatment is to achieve normalization of CRP levels (less than 5 mg/L) as the inflammation resolves. It's worth noting that the provided evidence is not directly related to reactive arthritis, but rather to rheumatoid arthritis, however, the principles of CRP elevation and its correlation with disease activity can be applied to other inflammatory conditions, including reactive arthritis 3, 4, 5.