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Inflammation, the acute phase response and atherosclerosis

J Whicher1, L Biasucci, N Rifai

  • 1jwhicher@compuserve.com

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
|July 27, 1999
PubMed

Insights

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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