High-sensitivity C-reactive protein: clinical importance.
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a marker of inflammation that predicts incident myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and sudden cardiac death among healthy individuals with no history of cardiovascular disease, and recurrent events and death in patients with acute or stable coronary syndromes. hsCRP confers additional prognostic value at all levels of cholesterol, Framingham coronary risk score, severity of the metabolic syndrome, and blood pressure, and in those with and without subclinical atherosclerosis. hsCRP levels of less than 1, 1 to 3, and greater than 3 mg/L are associated with lower, moderate, and higher cardiovascular risks, respectively. This article summarizes epidemiologic data on the relation between CRP and atherothrombotic disease and provides clinical guidelines for hsCRP screening in cardiovascular risk assessment.
Bassuk
Shari S
SS
Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Rifai
Nader
N
Ridker
Paul M
PM
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein