Which laboratory value indicates the presence of inflammation in the body?

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. It is part of the acute-phase response and is released into the bloodstream when inflammation occurs. High levels of CRP can indicate ongoing inflammation due to various conditions such as infections, autoimmune diseases, and chronic inflammatory conditions.

While white blood cell count, cytokine levels, and blood urea nitrogen can provide important clinical information, they are not as specific to inflammation as CRP. Elevated white blood cell counts can indicate infection or stress but do not solely reflect inflammation. Cytokine levels can indicate inflammatory responses but may not always be routinely measured in clinical practice compared to CRP. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) primarily assesses kidney function and is not a direct marker of inflammation. Thus, CRP serves as a clear and widely used laboratory value for identifying inflammation in the body.