hs-CRP Interpreter
A single marker that reflects inflammation across your entire body. Enter your hs-CRP to understand what it reveals about your cardiovascular and metabolic risk — and what drives it.
Your hs-CRP
Enter your high-sensitivity C-reactive protein result from your most recent blood work.
hs-CRP is measured in mg/L (not mg/dL). Most labs report it this way.
What this means
What to consider
Medications that may affect your result
Statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin) reduce hs-CRP independently of their effect on cholesterol. If you are on a statin, your unmedicated hs-CRP would likely be higher.
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) can acutely lower CRP. A reading taken while using NSAIDs may underrepresent your baseline inflammation.
Corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone) suppress inflammation broadly, including CRP. Results while on corticosteroids do not reflect your natural inflammatory state.
Hormone replacement therapy (estrogen-based HRT) can elevate CRP, particularly oral forms. This elevation may not reflect true cardiovascular risk.
If you are taking any of these medications, your results reflect the medicated state. Discuss trends and context with your healthcare provider.
About this tool
Classification
Low cardiovascular risk: below 1.0 mg/L. Average risk: 1.0-3.0 mg/L. High risk: 3.0-10.0 mg/L. Very high (likely acute inflammation): above 10.0 mg/L. These thresholds follow AHA/CDC guidelines for cardiovascular risk assessment.
What is hs-CRP?
C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the liver in response to inflammation anywhere in the body. The "high-sensitivity" (hs) version of the test can detect very low levels of CRP, making it useful for assessing chronic low-grade inflammation associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Standard CRP tests are used for acute inflammation (infection, injury); hs-CRP is specifically designed for cardiovascular risk stratification.
Known Limitations
hs-CRP is non-specific — it rises in response to any inflammation, not just cardiovascular. A single elevated reading may reflect a recent cold, dental procedure, minor injury, or autoimmune flare rather than chronic metabolic inflammation. For cardiovascular risk assessment, the AHA recommends two readings taken two weeks apart, using the lower value. hs-CRP above 10 mg/L almost always indicates acute inflammation and should not be used for cardiovascular risk assessment until retested after recovery.
Sources
Ridker PM. "High-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a predictor of cardiovascular disease." Circulation, 2003. Pearson TA, et al. "Markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease." AHA/CDC Scientific Statement. Circulation, 2003.
Educational tool only. Not for diagnostic purposes. Consult a healthcare provider for medical decisions.