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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Anti-Nuclear Antibody Screening Using HEp-2 Cells
Published on: June 23, 2014
Antibodies to C reactive protein
1Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Background:
C reactive protein (CRP) is a known indicator of inflammation. Serum CRP is often raised in patients with inflammatory conditions.
Objective:
To determine whether individuals make antibodies to CRP and whether this might affect serum CRP concentrations.
Methods:
An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the detection of antibodies to CRP. Specificity of the reaction was determined by inhibition of the reaction.
Results:
Sera from 413 patients were tested and 25 were found to be positive, particularly in patients with rheumatic diseases. Levels of anti-CRP did not correlate with serum CRP levels.
Conclusions:
The presence of low CRP levels may not reflect the presence of antibodies to CRP.
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