The Role of C-Reactive Protein in the Infections Caused by Parasites(Review)

Background: Inflammation causes a rise in the levels of certain proteins; these proteins are identified as acute stage proteins and one of these proteins is C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP composed of 206-amino acid of the short pentraxin family. Objective: This review assessed CRP as an inflammatory indicator that has an important role in the host's defense against infection and also it is documented the pivotal role of this protein during infections with different parasites. Conclusion: This review is hypothesizing that CRP levels rise during infections caused by parasites. Other studies revealed that there is no association of soil-transmitted helminths infections with the increasing levels of CRP. Keywords: C-reactive protein; protozoan parasites; soil-transmitted helminths