C-Reactive protein and its implications in systemic lupus erythematosus

C-reactive protein CRP is an acute-phase protein known as a biomarker for inflammation. As such CRP levels have been traditionally used to detect and predict the outcome of infections inflammatory and necrotic processes and to monitor the efficacy of treatment in these conditions. With the development of high sensitivity assays CRP has resurfaced as a very strong predictor in cardiovascular disease and as a mediator of atherosclerosis. The Centers for Disease Control and American Heart Association have elaborated guidelines for the use of CRP in the primary prevention setting and in patients with stable coronary disease or acute coronary syndromes. CRP has been used for differentiation between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus activity and infection in individuals without serositis. More recently CRP has also elicited interest as a therapeutic option in lupus. Murine lupus models treated with CRP have been reported to present delayed Lupus onset decreased antibody levels enhanced survival and reversal of ongoing proteinuria. In this paper we reviewed the multiple roles of CRP particularly in lupus.