CRP Itself Is Unlikely to Cause Coronary Heart Disease

Inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD). Elevated levels of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of inflammation, are associated with excess risk for CHD. However, whether elevated plasma CRP levels cause CHD or whether CHD causes elevated plasma CRP is unknown. In this meta-analysis of 47 studies, investigators used genetic and epidemiological data to determine whether elevated plasma CRP causes CHD.

Of 194,000 participants (mean age, 59; 89% of European descent), 24% had CHD. Data were available on CRP levels, other CHD risk factors, and a panel of four single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CRP gene that account for as much as a 30% difference in baseline CRP levels among European populations.…