Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Biomarkers?ExamplesUsesLimitationsWhat You Can DoFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Biomarkers?
Examples
Uses
Limitations
What You Can Do
Frequently Asked Questions
Inflammationplays a role in many different diseases, including short-term issues and morechronic inflammatory disorders. Because of this, scientists have worked hard to find “biomarkers” of inflammation.
Through a blood test or other type of test, clinicians can get information about different aspects of inflammation in the body. These tests measure what are called inflammatory biomarkers.
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A biomarker, also called a biological marker, refers to an objective measurement of something happening inside a person’s body. Such biomarkers provide a lot of important information to clinicians, who use them to help diagnose and properly treat medical conditions.Clinicians use them in assessing almost every patient.
Biomarkers are a broad category. For example, a person’s blood pressure is a type of biomarker. Imaging tests likeX-raysare another subcategory of biomarkers.
Other biomarkers might analyze a component of a person’s blood, urine,cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, or stool.Most often, people mean information from blood tests when they talk about biomarkers.
Similarly, there is variability in what exactly biomarkers are testing. Some might be testing for the amounts of certain proteins, while others may analyze the number of a specific type of cell.
What Are Inflammatory Biomarkers?A biomarker that gives information about inflammation might be called an “inflammatory biomarker.” Sometimes this term is used to describe markers that give additional information about a person’s immune system, even if they aren’t directly involved in inflammation.
What Are Inflammatory Biomarkers?
A biomarker that gives information about inflammation might be called an “inflammatory biomarker.” Sometimes this term is used to describe markers that give additional information about a person’s immune system, even if they aren’t directly involved in inflammation.
Measuring the Inflammatory Response
Inflammation is a complex process in which your body responds to some sort of perceived injury, infection, or toxin.But sometimes the responses get out of hand and cause additional problems.
During inflammation, some of the connections joining your cells can become “leaky.” Because of this, more fluid than normal can fill an area. If you twist your ankle, for example, the area might becomered, swollen, warm, and painful.
Acute InflammationSometimes inflammation goes away on its own. This is called acute inflammation. For example, this might happen to a person with a twisted ankle. The immune system eventually turns off the inflammatory signal, and the area returns to normal.
Acute Inflammation
Sometimes inflammation goes away on its own. This is called acute inflammation. For example, this might happen to a person with a twisted ankle. The immune system eventually turns off the inflammatory signal, and the area returns to normal.
Long-Term InflammationOther times, the immune system can go into a state of more chronic, long-term inflammation. This can happen in people withautoimmune diseaseslike rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, and many others. More cytokines and more specific immune cells might be present in an area than normal.Depending on where in the body this is happening, it can cause specific symptoms. For example, someone with rheumatoid arthritis has excess inflammation in their joints. Researchers are still learning about the complex reasons people develop chronic inflammation.
Long-Term Inflammation
Other times, the immune system can go into a state of more chronic, long-term inflammation. This can happen in people withautoimmune diseaseslike rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, and many others. More cytokines and more specific immune cells might be present in an area than normal.Depending on where in the body this is happening, it can cause specific symptoms. For example, someone with rheumatoid arthritis has excess inflammation in their joints. Researchers are still learning about the complex reasons people develop chronic inflammation.
Other times, the immune system can go into a state of more chronic, long-term inflammation. This can happen in people withautoimmune diseaseslike rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, and many others. More cytokines and more specific immune cells might be present in an area than normal.
Depending on where in the body this is happening, it can cause specific symptoms. For example, someone with rheumatoid arthritis has excess inflammation in their joints. Researchers are still learning about the complex reasons people develop chronic inflammation.
Inflammation is a complex series of actions and reactions in your body. So, it makes sense that there isn’t one single test that measures it. Different inflammatory biomarkers give slightly different information about what is going on.
Inflammatory Biomarker Examples
Some of the more commonly used inflammatory markers used include the following:
Other inflammatory markers are sometimes assessed in specific circumstances.
Cell Counts
A standard medical test is thecomplete blood count(CBC), which gives information about the number of different cells in your blood. A CBC measures:
Changes in the components of your blood can contribute to inflammation. For example, elevated WBC and platelet counts with low hemoglobin is a surrogate for inflammation.
CBC gives broad information relevant to a lot of different diseases which involve inflammation. Some of these are:
The CA 15-3 Blood Test for Breast Cancer
CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
ESR(“sed rate”) is another commonly used measure of inflammation. Technically, it measures changes to red blood cells (erythrocytes) which can happen due to inflammation. It may be elevated in many different inflammatory medical conditions, including most of the same ones as CRP.
Procalcitonin
Calprotectin
Calprotectinis a substance found in specific white blood cells (called neutrophils) that are very active in inflammation. The amount of calprotectin in one’s stool can be used to distinguishinflammatory bowel diseasefrom a non-inflammatory cause of one’s symptoms (like irritable bowel syndrome).
Ferritin
Ferritin is a protein in blood that contains iron. A ferritin test, which shows the amount of ferritin in the blood, can determine how much iron one’s body stores. A low blood ferritin level can indicate iron deficiency, whereas a high blood ferritin could indicate rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, or other inflammatory conditions.
Fibrinogen
Fibrinogen can be a biomarker for tumors; they are found in above average amounts in the blood and urine of those with cancer. Checking fibrinogen levels can help determine if cancer treatment is working or if the cancer has worsened.
When Doctors Use Biomarkers for Inflammation
These tests can also be used to monitor for the level of a person’s disease activity, like forlupus. This might impact the kind of treatment your doctor suggests.
Sometimes, these biomarkers might be used to give an idea about your disease prognosis. For example, if you have cancer, you might have an increased risk of treatment resistance or failure if your pretreatment inflammatory markers are elevated.
However, other research argues that these increased inflammatory markers may also be a nonspecific response to cancer development. It may also depend on what type of cancer is discovered, certain patient factors, and what type of treatment is used
As of now, clinicians don’t generally use inflammatory biomarkers for health screening. But this might change in the future.Often, more than one marker of inflammation is used at the same time. This can give a more accurate view about whether inflammation is really present.
As of now, clinicians don’t generally use inflammatory biomarkers for health screening. But this might change in the future.
Often, more than one marker of inflammation is used at the same time. This can give a more accurate view about whether inflammation is really present.
Inflammatory Biomarker Limitations
One important limitation is that these tests are considered nonspecific. That means that they can’t be used on their own to diagnose disease.
That makes sense, because inflammation is a part of so many different diseases. In other words, knowing that your body has inflammation doesn’t tell youwhythat inflammation is happening.
Sometimes you might even have inflammation not from an active disease but from something like smoking, pregnancy, aging, or unrelated medical problems.Additionally, these tests often aren’t good indicators about whether a person has chronic inflammation or only temporary inflammation.
It’s important to note that this is a rapidly changing area in medicine. Right now, there are relatively few markers of inflammation that clinicians regularly use.
But researchers are discovering a lot of new information about how we might use inflammatory research markers in the future, potentially in many different diseases. For example, we might eventually use some of these markers to estimate a person’s risk for cancer.
Inflammatory biomarkers are also very helpful when researchers evaluate new potential treatment options.
Interpreting Results
Your doctor may have you get certain tests for inflammatory biomarkers as part of your diagnosis and ongoing treatment.
For example, if you have painful joints, tests for inflammation can show that you are more likely to have an inflammatory condition likerheumatoid arthritisinstead of another medical condition that might cause these issues, likeosteoarthritis.
Understanding Result RangesWhen you get your test results back, they’ll usually be put in terms of their normal range. Typically, if your result comes back higher than that normal range, it’s a sign that inflammation might be part of your problem.If your results come back in the normal range, it’s more likely that you have a problem that doesn’t cause a lot of inflammation.However, not every inflammatory biomarker is like this. For some, having a lower than normal number might mean that inflammation was involved. And sometimes it makes a difference if your value is a little or a lot out of the normal range.
Understanding Result Ranges
When you get your test results back, they’ll usually be put in terms of their normal range. Typically, if your result comes back higher than that normal range, it’s a sign that inflammation might be part of your problem.If your results come back in the normal range, it’s more likely that you have a problem that doesn’t cause a lot of inflammation.However, not every inflammatory biomarker is like this. For some, having a lower than normal number might mean that inflammation was involved. And sometimes it makes a difference if your value is a little or a lot out of the normal range.
When you get your test results back, they’ll usually be put in terms of their normal range. Typically, if your result comes back higher than that normal range, it’s a sign that inflammation might be part of your problem.
If your results come back in the normal range, it’s more likely that you have a problem that doesn’t cause a lot of inflammation.
However, not every inflammatory biomarker is like this. For some, having a lower than normal number might mean that inflammation was involved. And sometimes it makes a difference if your value is a little or a lot out of the normal range.
It’s important to note that such tests aren’t necessary for diagnosing every kind of inflammation, and they don’t always give great information about the level of your disease activity. Your own experience of your symptoms often gives information that is helpful as well.
Seeing the Big PictureRemember that these results must be used in the context of your complete medical picture. Ask your doctor if you have questions about the interpretation of your specific test results.
Seeing the Big Picture
Remember that these results must be used in the context of your complete medical picture. Ask your doctor if you have questions about the interpretation of your specific test results.
Fortunately, there is often a lot you can do to reduce the inflammation in your body and so reduce your symptoms.
At Home
Some of the following may help you reduce your inflammation:
With the Help of Your Doctor
Your doctor can help provide resources for all of these (e.g., referral to a nutritionist, medication to help you quit smoking).
What to Do When Your CRP Is Too High
A Word From Verywell
The main thing to remember, though, is that you have some control over how to manage your chronic inflammation. By making good health choices and working with your doctor to get the right therapy, you can decrease your symptoms and get your inflammatory biomarkers closer to the normal range.
By testing for inflammatory biomarkers, a clinician gets clues about the possible causes of your symptoms. If your inflammatory biomarkers are abnormal, it’s a clue that you might have an inflammatory disorder, one in which inflammation is a big cause of the problem.
Some of the most commonly used inflammatory markers are CRP, ESR, procalcitonin, and white blood counts (assessed via a complete blood count). Many others are used in specific circumstances or in research.
Inflammatory biomarkers can often give good information about whether inflammation is present, especially when used together. However, their meaning must be interpreted in the context of your medical history, exam, and other tests.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ansar W, Ghosh S.Inflammation and inflammatory diseases, markers, and mediators: role of CRP in some inflammatory diseases.Biology of C Reactive Protein in Health and Disease. 2016;67-107. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2680-2_4Prasad S, Tyagi AK, Aggarwal BB.Detection of inflammatorybiomarkers in saliva and urine: potential in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for chronic diseases.Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2016;241(8):783-799. doi:10.1177/1535370216638770Brenner DR, Scherer D, Muir K, et al.A review of the application of inflammatory biomarkers in epidemiologic cancer research.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014;23(9):1729-1751. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0064Mayo Clinic.Complete blood count (CBC).MedlinePlus.White blood count.Bray C, Bell LN, Liang H, et al.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein measurements and their relevance in clinical medicine.WMJ. 2016;115(6):317-321.Vijayan AL, Vanimaya, Ravindran S, et al.Procalcitonin: a promising diagnostic marker for sepsis and antibiotic therapy.J Intensive Care. 2017;5:51. doi:10.1186/s40560-017-0246-8Bjarnason I.The use of fecal calprotectin in inflammatory bowel disease.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2017;13(1):53-56.Mayo Clinic.Ferritin test.National Cancer Institute.Fibrinogen.Allin KH, Nordestgaard BG, Flyger H, Bojesen SE.Elevated pretreatment levels of plasma C-reactive protein are associated with poor prognosis after breast cancer: a cohort study.Breast Cancer Res. 2011;13(3):R55. doi:10.1186/bcr2891Janciauskiene S, Wrenger S, Günzel S, Gründing AR, Golpon H, Welte T.Potential roles of acute phase proteins in cancer: Why do cancer cells produce or take up exogenous acute phase protein alpha1-antitrypsin?Front Oncol. 2021;11:622076. doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.622076Todoric J, Antonucci L, Karin M.Targeting inflammation in cancer prevention and therapy.Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016;9(12):895-905. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-16-0209
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ansar W, Ghosh S.Inflammation and inflammatory diseases, markers, and mediators: role of CRP in some inflammatory diseases.Biology of C Reactive Protein in Health and Disease. 2016;67-107. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2680-2_4Prasad S, Tyagi AK, Aggarwal BB.Detection of inflammatorybiomarkers in saliva and urine: potential in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for chronic diseases.Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2016;241(8):783-799. doi:10.1177/1535370216638770Brenner DR, Scherer D, Muir K, et al.A review of the application of inflammatory biomarkers in epidemiologic cancer research.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014;23(9):1729-1751. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0064Mayo Clinic.Complete blood count (CBC).MedlinePlus.White blood count.Bray C, Bell LN, Liang H, et al.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein measurements and their relevance in clinical medicine.WMJ. 2016;115(6):317-321.Vijayan AL, Vanimaya, Ravindran S, et al.Procalcitonin: a promising diagnostic marker for sepsis and antibiotic therapy.J Intensive Care. 2017;5:51. doi:10.1186/s40560-017-0246-8Bjarnason I.The use of fecal calprotectin in inflammatory bowel disease.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2017;13(1):53-56.Mayo Clinic.Ferritin test.National Cancer Institute.Fibrinogen.Allin KH, Nordestgaard BG, Flyger H, Bojesen SE.Elevated pretreatment levels of plasma C-reactive protein are associated with poor prognosis after breast cancer: a cohort study.Breast Cancer Res. 2011;13(3):R55. doi:10.1186/bcr2891Janciauskiene S, Wrenger S, Günzel S, Gründing AR, Golpon H, Welte T.Potential roles of acute phase proteins in cancer: Why do cancer cells produce or take up exogenous acute phase protein alpha1-antitrypsin?Front Oncol. 2021;11:622076. doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.622076Todoric J, Antonucci L, Karin M.Targeting inflammation in cancer prevention and therapy.Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016;9(12):895-905. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-16-0209
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ansar W, Ghosh S.Inflammation and inflammatory diseases, markers, and mediators: role of CRP in some inflammatory diseases.Biology of C Reactive Protein in Health and Disease. 2016;67-107. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2680-2_4Prasad S, Tyagi AK, Aggarwal BB.Detection of inflammatorybiomarkers in saliva and urine: potential in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for chronic diseases.Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2016;241(8):783-799. doi:10.1177/1535370216638770Brenner DR, Scherer D, Muir K, et al.A review of the application of inflammatory biomarkers in epidemiologic cancer research.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014;23(9):1729-1751. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0064Mayo Clinic.Complete blood count (CBC).MedlinePlus.White blood count.Bray C, Bell LN, Liang H, et al.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein measurements and their relevance in clinical medicine.WMJ. 2016;115(6):317-321.Vijayan AL, Vanimaya, Ravindran S, et al.Procalcitonin: a promising diagnostic marker for sepsis and antibiotic therapy.J Intensive Care. 2017;5:51. doi:10.1186/s40560-017-0246-8Bjarnason I.The use of fecal calprotectin in inflammatory bowel disease.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2017;13(1):53-56.Mayo Clinic.Ferritin test.National Cancer Institute.Fibrinogen.Allin KH, Nordestgaard BG, Flyger H, Bojesen SE.Elevated pretreatment levels of plasma C-reactive protein are associated with poor prognosis after breast cancer: a cohort study.Breast Cancer Res. 2011;13(3):R55. doi:10.1186/bcr2891Janciauskiene S, Wrenger S, Günzel S, Gründing AR, Golpon H, Welte T.Potential roles of acute phase proteins in cancer: Why do cancer cells produce or take up exogenous acute phase protein alpha1-antitrypsin?Front Oncol. 2021;11:622076. doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.622076Todoric J, Antonucci L, Karin M.Targeting inflammation in cancer prevention and therapy.Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016;9(12):895-905. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-16-0209
Ansar W, Ghosh S.Inflammation and inflammatory diseases, markers, and mediators: role of CRP in some inflammatory diseases.Biology of C Reactive Protein in Health and Disease. 2016;67-107. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2680-2_4
Prasad S, Tyagi AK, Aggarwal BB.Detection of inflammatorybiomarkers in saliva and urine: potential in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for chronic diseases.Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2016;241(8):783-799. doi:10.1177/1535370216638770
Brenner DR, Scherer D, Muir K, et al.A review of the application of inflammatory biomarkers in epidemiologic cancer research.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014;23(9):1729-1751. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0064
Mayo Clinic.Complete blood count (CBC).
MedlinePlus.White blood count.
Bray C, Bell LN, Liang H, et al.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein measurements and their relevance in clinical medicine.WMJ. 2016;115(6):317-321.
Vijayan AL, Vanimaya, Ravindran S, et al.Procalcitonin: a promising diagnostic marker for sepsis and antibiotic therapy.J Intensive Care. 2017;5:51. doi:10.1186/s40560-017-0246-8
Bjarnason I.The use of fecal calprotectin in inflammatory bowel disease.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2017;13(1):53-56.
Mayo Clinic.Ferritin test.
National Cancer Institute.Fibrinogen.
Allin KH, Nordestgaard BG, Flyger H, Bojesen SE.Elevated pretreatment levels of plasma C-reactive protein are associated with poor prognosis after breast cancer: a cohort study.Breast Cancer Res. 2011;13(3):R55. doi:10.1186/bcr2891
Janciauskiene S, Wrenger S, Günzel S, Gründing AR, Golpon H, Welte T.Potential roles of acute phase proteins in cancer: Why do cancer cells produce or take up exogenous acute phase protein alpha1-antitrypsin?Front Oncol. 2021;11:622076. doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.622076
Todoric J, Antonucci L, Karin M.Targeting inflammation in cancer prevention and therapy.Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016;9(12):895-905. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-16-0209
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