[The role of C-reactive protein and other acute phase markers in atherosclerosis]

Presently, atherosclerosis is considered to be not only a disease caused by dysmetabolism and lipid transport disturbances, but also a lingering chronic vascular wall inflammation. This causes researchers to carry out active studies of inflammation mediators, among which acute phase markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), serum fibrinogen, and leucocytes, form an individual group. The data from numerous epidemiologic studies evidence that some of the inflammation markers present additional and independent cardiovascular risk factors. However, considering possibilities provided by them, and possibilities of their routine use to detect lingering chronic vascular inflammation, CRP is the optimal marker. Presently, new techniques that allow detection of the so called high sensitive CRP (hsCRP) have been developed and are in use. Nowadays, detection of hsCRP, due to its high information value, plays a leading role in evaluation of the risk of future thrombovascular events.