title: [High-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a biomarker of risk in coronary artery disease].
abstract: Vascular inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and mediates various stages of atherosclerotic plaque development, from lipid streak formation to the plaque rupture and destabilization that precedes the clinical syndromes of cardiovascular disease. Inflammatory biomarkers constitute valuable tools to study this process, enabling the effects of different therapeutic interventions to be assessed. Currently, C-reactive protein (CRP) determined by high-sensitivity methods (hs-CRP) is the most extensively studied biomarker. Data regarding hs-CRP and cardiovascular risk, though largely consistent, are of unclear clinical relevance. This article provides a comprehensive review of current knowledge concerning cardiovascular risk and hs-CRP, and concludes with an evidence-based analysis of the current role of hs-CRP in cardiovascular risk assessment.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia I, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal. dojreis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Doroteia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pais de Lacerda
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011322:Primary Prevention; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein