Clarifying the role of C-reactive protein as a bacterial infection predictor in decompensated cirrhosis.

Introduction: Bacterial infections are frequent in cirrhosis and may induce other deleterious complications. Ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (US-CRP), like other acute-phase proteins, is often considered useful in predicting bacterial infection in decompensated cirrhosis. However, US-CRP's reliability remains inconclusive, as inflammation in cirrhosis causes US-CRP synthesis independently of infection.