Of note though, while levels of CRP measured in the study samples were markedly higher in patients with sepsis than in patients with non-infective SIRS (146 (105 to 203) vs 9.5 (3.4 to 19.9) (P < 0.001)), there was no difference in CRP depending on severity of illness (data not shown). Here, CRP is linked to systemic inflammatory response syndrome.