New frontiers for cardiac risk assessment: C-reactive protein

Current theories of atherosclerotic plaque formation suggest that inflammation plays a key role in coronary heart disease. In an effort to augment current tools for cardiac risk assessment, researchers have found that levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) may play an important role in gauging an individual's risk for a cardiac event. While not currently recommended for mass population screening, measurement of CRP may play an increasing part in identifying at-risk patients and guiding pharmacologic intervention.