Outcomes from several recent studies have led researchers to propose a new way to determine a person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), a potentially life-threatening condition associated with heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. The method involves looking at blood levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). CRP is produced by the body in response to tissue injury, inflammation, or infection. Researchers believe that heart disease is associated with chronic inflammation and elevated CRP levels.

Rather than looking at total and HDL (high density lipid) cholesterol levels or hs-CRP levels alone, both of which appear to be independent risk factors for heart disease, researchers have developed an algorithm (way of computing something) for predicting the risk of CVD using both hs-CRP and cholesterol levels. They believe that this will result in more accurate assessment of a person's risk, which will allow for appropriate and timely preventative measures to be taken. This may be especially helpful since roughly half of those who have heart attacks also have normal cholesterol levels.

However, further research is needed before hs-CRP is used widely to screen populations for CVD or to guide treatment decisions. While the studies do shed more light on the nature of heart disease, prospective studies need to be conducted that can demonstrate more definitively the role of hs-CRP and medications, such as statins, in reducing the risk of CVD.

Sources:
Clinical Laboratory News. February 1, 2001; 27(2):1.
Clinical Chemistry. 2001; 47:28-30.
Vedantam S. “Blood Test May Help Spot Hearts at Risk, Scientists Say.” Washington Post. June 28, 2001: A15.