High sensitive C-reactive protein: a novel biochemical markers and its role in coronary artery disease

Abstract

A series of prospective studies provide consistent data documenting that mild elevation of baseline levels of hs-CRP among apparently healthy individuals is associated with higher long-term risk for future cardiovascular events. This predictive capacity of hs-CRP is independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and offers a prognostic advantage over measurement of lipid alone. PHS and CARE trial suggest that the increased risk associated with systemic inflammation may be modified with certain preventive therapies and that inflammatory marker specifically hs-CRP may help to identify those who would benefit most from these pharmacological intervention. hs-CRP is the novel and evolving biomarker which provides a most useful predictive indicator for subsequent cardiovascular events. Based on various studies, increased hs-CRP levels in patients with high risk cardiovascular disease without documented CAD warrant treatment with statin even if LDL-C levels are within target range. Patients with documented CAD and high hs-CRP levels should be followed, and there risk factors should be managed aggressively.