The C-reactive protein and Nep serum levels are significantly higher in patients with gastric intestinal metaplasia and gastric atrophy: the best cut-off value to differentiate between patients with metaplasia and/or atrophy from controls was ≥10.15 nM for the Nep levels and ≥1.95 mg l−1 for the C-reactive protein levels [102]. Here, CRP is linked to chronic atrophic gastritis.