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C-reactive protein, inflammation, and coronary risk
Paul M Ridker1, David A Morrow
1Center for Cardiovascular Disease in Women, Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Pmridker@bics.bwh.harvard.edu
Cardiology Clinics
|November 19, 2003
Summary
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) indicates future cardiovascular risk, even in healthy individuals. hs-CRP may help tailor preventive therapies for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Inflammation Biology
- Clinical Pathology
Background:
- Inflammation is central to atherothrombosis and atherosclerotic vascular disease progression.
- Epidemiologic data link high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to cardiovascular risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of hs-CRP as a cardiovascular risk marker.
- To explore hs-CRP's potential in guiding preventive therapies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of epidemiologic and prospective study data.
- Review of findings from the PHS and CARE trials.
Main Results:
- Elevated hs-CRP predicts future cardiovascular events in high-risk and apparently healthy individuals.
- hs-CRP's predictive value is independent of traditional risk factors.
- hs-CRP may identify individuals benefiting from specific preventive therapies.
Conclusions:
- hs-CRP shows prognostic advantage over lipid measurements alone.
- Further research is needed to confirm hs-CRP's clinical efficacy in risk stratification.
- Prospective trials are essential to validate hs-CRP's role in targeted preventive strategies.