Autoimmune diseases cause inflammation. C-reactive protein (CRP) should be elevated in a person with inflammation.
Is it possible that a person with an autoimmune disease (e.g. autoimmune hemolytic anemia) and without impaired CRP production has a non-detectable level of C-reactive protein in their blood serum (0.0 mg/l)?
MY OWN RESEARCH:
Most of the sources discuss only high levels of CRP as a marker of inflammation. However, Wikipedia (Autoimmune disease) says:
C reactive protein, a protein made in the liver generally increases with inflammation, and may be high in autoimmune disease.
This leaves a low CRP in an autoimmune disease as a possibility.
Furthermore, John Hopkins Lupus Center (C-reactive Protein (CRP)/Westergren Sedimentation Rate) states:
It is important to realize, though, that a low CRP value does not necessarily mean that an individual is experiencing no inflammation; a low CRP can be seen in lupus patients with active inflammation.
This confirms that CRP can be low in autoimmune diseases. But can there be no C-reactive protein in blood serum of a patient with an autoimmune disease? Maybe if the disease is currently in a state of remission?