Immunoradiometric assay of circulating C-reactive protein: age-related values in the adult general population.
BACKGROUND
: Increased values of C-reactive protein (CRP), the classical acute phase protein, within the range below 5 mg/L, previously considered to be within the reference interval, are strongly associated with increased risk of atherothrombotic events, and are clinically significant in osteoarthritis and neonatal infection.


METHODS
: A robust new polyclonal-monoclonal solid- phase IRMA for CRP was developed, with a range of 0.05-10.0 mg/L.


RESULTS
: Plasma CRP values in general adult populations from Augsburg, Germany (2291 males and 2203 females; ages, 25-74 years) and Glasgow, Scotland (604 males and 650 females; ages, 25-64 years) were very similar. The median CRP approximately doubled with age, from approximately 1 mg/L in the youngest decade to approximately 2 mg/L in the oldest, and tended to be higher in females.


CONCLUSIONS
: This extensive data set, the largest such study of CRP, provides valuable reference information for future clinical and epidemiological investigations.
Hutchinson
W L
WL
Immunological Medicine Unit, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.
Koenig
W
W
Fröhlich
M
M
Sund
M
M
Lowe
G D
GD
Pepys
M B
MB
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001775:Blood Circulation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002097:C-Reactive Protein