Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
10:03

Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty

Published on: January 28, 2020

C-reactive protein, cardiovascular disease and stroke: new roles for an old biomarker

Bradley J Willcox1, Robert D Abbott, Katsuhiko Yano

  • 1Pacific Health Research Institute, 846 South Hotel St., Suite 301, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. bjwillcox@phrihawaii.org

Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
|April 28, 2005
PubMed

Insights

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a promising biomarker for cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. Elevated CRP levels, even within the normal range, indicate a graded increase in stroke risk, suggesting its potential as a screening tool.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Inflammation and Atherosclerosis

Background:

  • Stroke is a major global cause of death and disability.
  • Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a key factor in atherosclerosis development.
  • C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase reactant, shows potential as a cardiovascular disease biomarker.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the predictive value of C-reactive protein (CRP) for stroke risk.
  • To explore the role of CRP in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
  • To assess the utility of high-sensitivity CRP assays for cardiovascular disease screening.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on C-reactive protein and cardiovascular disease/stroke.
  • Analysis of the relationship between CRP levels (including normal ranges) and stroke risk.
  • Consideration of CRP's etiological role and amenability to anti-inflammatory treatments.

Main Results:

  • CRP may be more predictive of cardiovascular disease than cholesterol.
  • A graded increase in stroke risk is observed with increasing CRP levels, even within the low-to-high normal range.
  • CRP's predictive value for stroke may be less pronounced in the elderly.

Conclusions:

  • C-reactive protein is a significant predictor of stroke risk.
  • CRP's role in atherosclerosis warrants further investigation.
  • High-sensitivity CRP assays could become a standard tool for cardiovascular disease and stroke risk screening.

Related Concept Videos

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers01:19

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers01:20

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers

Cardiac biomarkers are enzymes, proteins, and hormones released into the blood when cardiac cells are injured. They are powerful tools for triaging.
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies01:30

Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies

Diagnosing acute coronary syndrome or ACS begins with a thorough patient history. Notable symptoms include central, crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm, neck, jaw, or back, along with shortness of breath, sweating (diaphoresis), nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and palpitations.It is crucial to note any history of cardiac illnesses and assess risk factors, including age, gender, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and a sedentary lifestyle.During physical examination, vital...