Which lab result is an indicator of acute inflammation?

Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are a well-known indicator of acute inflammation in the body. When an inflammatory process occurs, such as in response to infection, injury, or other stressors, the liver produces CRP as part of the acute phase response. This protein becomes elevated within hours of the onset of inflammation and is primarily used in clinical settings to assess the presence and intensity of inflammatory processes.

The significance of CRP lies in its ability to reflect the level of inflammation regardless of the specific cause. Clinicians often order CRP tests to monitor disease activity in inflammatory conditions or to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment over time. Thus, elevated CRP levels serve as a rapid and reliable marker for acute inflammatory states.

In contrast, low blood cell counts might indicate conditions such as anemia or bone marrow suppression, high glucose levels typically suggest metabolic issues like diabetes rather than inflammation, and normal complete blood counts do not reflect the presence of an inflammatory response. These aspects help reinforce why elevated CRP is the most accurate indicator of acute inflammation among the options provided.