C-Reactive Protein
Several large scale studies have shown that high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been shown to be an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease . Recent studies have also shown that subjects with very high hs-CRP levels developed infarctions significantly sooner than those with very low levels and tended to have significantly more fatal MIs . Those with high hs-CRP levels also carried a greater burden of disease, more extensive vulnerable plaque and more severe infarctions .
The addition of hs-CRP to traditional risk factors has also been shown to to re-classify 30% of patients at "intermediate risk" level into higher or lower risk categories . This has implications for clinical practice and physicians should measur and use hs-CRP in assessing cardiovascular risk and planning treatment decisions.
For more information see Cardiovascular Risk Factor: C-Reactive Protein and CMV.
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