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C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in vascular disease: culprits or passive bystanders?

Marcello Rattazzi1, Massimo Puato, Elisabetta Faggin

  • 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Padova, Italy.

Journal of Hypertension
|September 26, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are strong predictors of cardiovascular events and may actively contribute to disease development.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Inflammation Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is increasingly understood as a chronic inflammatory disease.
  • Inflammation is critical at all stages of atherosclerosis, from initiation to complication.
  • Biochemical markers of inflammation are being investigated as predictors of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cardiovascular disease.
  • To explore the potential direct involvement of CRP and IL-6 in the process of atherogenesis.
  • To assess the utility of these inflammatory markers in identifying individuals at risk for atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent advances in basic science regarding inflammation and atherosclerosis.
  • Analysis of large, prospective epidemiological studies on plasma levels of CRP and IL-6.
  • Evaluation of evidence for the role of CRP and IL-6 in cardiovascular risk prediction and atherogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Plasma levels of CRP and IL-6 are consistent, strong independent predictors of future cardiovascular events.
  • These markers predict risk in both patients with existing CHD and apparently healthy individuals.
  • CRP and IL-6 may serve as valuable complements to traditional risk factors for identifying at-risk subjects.

Conclusions:

  • CRP and IL-6 are significant predictors of cardiovascular events, complementing traditional risk factors.
  • Further research is needed to determine if CRP and IL-6 are merely markers or active contributors to atherosclerosis.
  • Understanding the role of these inflammatory molecules is crucial for identifying and managing atherosclerosis risk.

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