Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kluft, C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Kluft, C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

The European Society of Cardiology

Identifying patients at risk of coronary vascular disease: the potential role of inflammatory markers

C. Kluft*

Gaubius Laboratory, TNO Institute of Prevention and Health, Leiden, The Netherlands

* Correspondence: Gaubius Laboratory, TNO Institute of Prevention and Health, Leiden, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31-715-181-497; fax: +31-715-181-904
kluft{at}euronet.nl

Abstract

Inflammation is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The measurement of inflammatory markers may be a potent method for identifying individuals with increased inflammation at risk of future cardiovascular events. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), one marker of inflammation, is a strong independent predictor of CVD and can be used to identify individuals at increased risk who would otherwise be missed if standard lipid measurements only were used. Furthermore, CRP may actively participate in the pathogenic progression of atherosclerotic disease by activating complement, inducing synthesis of tissue factor, influencing nitric oxide levels, and enhancing foam cell uptake of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Simple, inexpensive methods for measuring hs-CRP are commercially available, making the measurement of CRP levels feasible in clinical settings. Together, these data suggest that the ability to accurately predict CVD risk may be significantly increased by including CRP measurements in risk assessment models. In addition, the identification of increased inflammation suggests that rational therapy should be applied and favours treatments with anti-inflammatory action.

Key Words: Cardiovascular disease • C-reactive protein • Inflammation • Inflammatory markers • Risk factor assessment • Statins


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.