C-reactive protein and coronary heart disease - risk marker or risk factor?

Cardiovascular diseases are gaining a dubious distinction of becoming the leading cause of death. Thus, the search for new risk markers and risk factors of cardiovascular disease continue, in an attempt to predict the risk of cardiovascular events with greater precision. Of all the risk markers available, high sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hsCRP) is considered to be the most robust tool with test characteristics desirable and conducive for clinical use. Pharmacological intervention trials were successful in reducing hsCRP in individuals with elevated levels, following which its status as a therapeutic target has taken a big leap. Numerous pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions are presently being investigated for their efficacy in reducing this inflammatory marker. This review discusses the stability of hsCRP, factors affecting the concentration, independent predictive ability as compared to the traditional risk factors and its role in atherogenesis.