CRP and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: One marker of systemic inflammation that is related to COPD prognosis is the serum levelof C-reactive protein (CRP).(10-12) Increased systemic inflammation during recovery from an AECOPD isassociated with recurrence within 50 days.(10) Whether serum CRP is a predictor of readmission for AECOPD duringlonger-term follow-up has yet to be determined.