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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
05:51
A Human Ex Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Model to Study Lesion Biology
Published on: May 6, 2014
Inflammation, the acute phase response and atherosclerosis
J Whicher1, L Biasucci, N Rifai
1jwhicher@compuserve.com
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
|July 27, 1999
Summary
Atherosclerosis involves chronic inflammation, and elevated acute phase proteins like C-reactive protein predict cardiovascular events. Higher levels, even within normal ranges, indicate increased risk for myocardial infarction and stroke.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Inflammation Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is increasingly recognized as a chronic inflammatory condition.
- Acute inflammatory exacerbations are linked to acute coronary syndromes like myocardial infarction and unstable angina.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the predictive value of serum acute phase proteins in atherosclerosis.
- To assess the association between acute phase protein levels and cardiovascular event risk.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of serum levels of acute phase proteins (e.g., C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A protein).
- Analysis of prospective studies correlating protein levels with cardiovascular events.
Main Results:
- Higher serum acute phase protein levels, even within reference ranges, predict increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
- These protein levels are significant predictors of infarction and death in high-risk patients.
Conclusions:
- Serum acute phase proteins are valuable biomarkers for predicting cardiovascular events in atherosclerosis.
- Findings have significant implications for patient risk assessment and therapeutic strategies in cardiovascular disease.
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