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C-reactive protein: a new risk assessment tool for cardiovascular disease

Michael B Clearfield1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2553, USA. mclearfi@hsc.unt.edu

The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
|October 22, 2005
PubMed

Insights

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) helps identify cardiovascular disease risk, especially in individuals with normal cholesterol. This inflammation marker aids in primary prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality.
  • Current risk assessment often relies on lipid profiles, which may miss high-risk individuals.
  • Inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the prognostic value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment.
  • To evaluate hs-CRP's utility in identifying individuals at high risk for CVD events, particularly those with low to average LDL cholesterol.
  • To discuss the implications of hs-CRP for primary prevention strategies and ongoing research on statin therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of prospective studies and clinical guidelines.
  • Analysis of hs-CRP's independent predictive value for cardiovascular events.
  • Examination of hs-CRP's role alongside traditional risk factors like LDL cholesterol.

Main Results:

  • hs-CRP is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events in both healthy individuals and those with acute coronary syndromes.
  • hs-CRP can identify high-risk individuals missed by lipid screening alone, especially those with low to average LDL cholesterol.
  • Joint guidelines from CDC and AHA support the use of hs-CRP in CVD risk assessment.

Conclusions:

  • hs-CRP is a valuable adjunct for global cardiovascular risk assessment in primary prevention.
  • The use of hs-CRP can enhance the identification of individuals who would benefit from early intervention.
  • Further research is ongoing to assess the impact of statin therapy on individuals with elevated hs-CRP and low LDL cholesterol.

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