C-Reactive Protein and Atherosclerosis: No Case for Causality

But a genetics study confirms CRP’s role as a marker for cardiovascular events.

Elevated plasma C-reactive protein levels are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events. However, scientists debate whether elevated CRP levels are a causative factor in — or just a marker of — ischemic vascular disease.

To assess the effects of genetically determined lifelong elevated CRP levels, investigators studied more than 50,000 Danish individuals from the general population of Copenhagen, including one large prospective cohort, one large cross-sectional cohort, and two small case-control groups. The researchers measured high-sensitivity plasma CRP levels and genotyped individuals for four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CRP gene and for two SNPs in the apolipoprotein E gene (positive controls). All of the…

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

C-Reactive Protein and Atherosclerosis: No Case for Causality

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Reviewing Author