title: Critical appraisal of C-reactive protein throughout the spectrum of cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Clinicians involved in the care of patients with cardiovascular conditions have recently been confronted with an important body of literature linking inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Indeed, the level of systemic inflammation as measured by circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) has been linked to prognosis in patients with atherosclerotic disease, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, myocarditis, aortic valve disease and heart transplantation. In addition, a number of basic science reports suggest an active role for CRP in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. This article explores the potential role of CRP in disease initiation, progression, and clinical manifestations and reviews its role in the prediction of future events in clinical practice. Therapeutic interventions to decrease circulating levels of CRP are also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Raed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Philippe L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: L'Allier
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elgharib
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tardif
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000097:blood; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein