Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
[C-reactive protein in cardiovascular risk evaluation]
Damir Fabijanić1, Marko Banić, Dusko Kardum
1Klinika za unutarnje bolesti Klinicke bolnice Split, lokalitet Kriline, Split. damir.fabijanic@st.t-com.hr
Insights
High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) indicates elevated cardiovascular risk and helps monitor treatment effectiveness. Elevated hs-CRP levels signal increased risk for cardiovascular events and guide preventive therapies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Inflammation Biology
- Biomarker Research
Context:
- Atherosclerosis involves inflammation, impacting cardiovascular risk.
- Global cardiovascular risk assessment necessitates reliable inflammatory markers.
- High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a key inflammatory marker.
Purpose:
- To review the role of hs-CRP in atherosclerosis pathogenesis.
- To discuss the clinical applications of hs-CRP in cardiovascular disease.
- To evaluate hs-CRP for risk stratification and therapeutic monitoring.
Summary:
- hs-CRP levels above 3 mg/L identify increased risk for cardiovascular events in diverse patient groups.
- Pharmacological and lifestyle interventions that reduce cardiovascular events also lower hs-CRP.
- hs-CRP aids in identifying high-risk individuals, monitoring disease activity, and assessing treatment efficacy.
Impact:
- hs-CRP serves as a valuable tool for primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention strategies.
- Understanding hs-CRP's role enhances clinical practice in managing atherosclerosis.
- hs-CRP levels can guide targeted therapeutic interventions for cardiovascular health.
Abstract:
Inflammation plays a central role in the initiation, progression and destabilization of atheroma. In an attempt to improve global cardiovascular risk assessment considerable research has focused on inflammatory markers, particularly high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). It has been reported that hs-CRP levels more than 3 mg/L identify increased risk of initial cardiovascular events in healthy individuals and also increased risk of adverse events in patients with stable and unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and in patients undergoing coronary revascularization procedures. Furthermore, several pharmacologic (eg. aspirin, statins, tienopiridins) and lifestyle interventions (eg. weight loss, smoking cessation, regular exercise) known to reduce cardiovascular events rates have also been shown to lower levels of hs-CRP. Therefore, hs-CRP levels may also prove useful in targeting therapy for primary and secondary prevention. This review discusses the role of hs-CRP in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its application in every day clinical practice, including the role of hs-CRP in identification of high-risk individuals, monitoring of the coronary artery disease activity, and assessment of therapeutic effect on the inflamatory component of the cardiovascular process.
Related Concept Videos
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
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...
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies