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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
09:01
An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
Age-Structured Clinical Background Is More Strongly Associated with C-Reactive Protein Levels than Individual
Sung Hun Jang1, Bo Kyeung Jung2, Jae-Sik Jeon3
1Department of Medical Laser, Graduate School of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan-si 31116, Republic of Korea.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 25, 2026
Summary
C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increase with age during respiratory infections, regardless of detected virus. Age, not virus type, is the primary factor influencing CRP, highlighting its role as a general inflammation marker.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Medicine
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key inflammatory marker.
- Age significantly influences immune responses and inflammatory markers.
- Understanding age-stratified CRP patterns in respiratory infections is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize age-stratified CRP levels during respiratory virus infections.
- To assess age-related CRP changes in episodes where viruses were not detected by PCR.
- To evaluate the independent associations of patient age and specific virus types with CRP levels.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 19,002 test-level episodes with paired respiratory PCR and serum CRP results (2008-2024).
- Classification of episodes into virus-positive or virus-not-detected-by-PCR groups.
- Descriptive analyses and multivariable linear regression of log-transformed CRP to assess associations.
Main Results:
- Median CRP increased with age in both virus-positive and virus-not-detected-by-PCR episodes.
- Age demonstrated the strongest association with CRP levels.
- Adenovirus showed a positive association, while influenza A/B, RSV A/B, and parainfluenza viruses 1 & 3 showed negative associations with CRP.
Conclusions:
- CRP variation is more strongly linked to age-related clinical factors than to specific virus types.
- CRP serves as a non-specific indicator of host response within broader clinical contexts.
- Age is a critical factor in interpreting CRP levels during respiratory infections.
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