| Inflammation is one way the body responds to | | | | sICAM-1, IL-6 and IL-18. |
| infection or injury. We are all aware of the classic | | | | Should You Have a CRP Blood Test? |
| symptoms of an inflammatory immune response - | | | | Even if CRP isn't the actual cause of disease, it can still |
| redness, raised patches on the skin, and swelling. But | | | | be important to know a patient's blood level of CRP. |
| inflammation can occur at low levels over long periods | | | | Research has shown that when CRP levels are taken |
| of time in our cardiovascular system, a condition | | | | into account, a patient's overall risk of heart attack, |
| known as chronic inflammation. | | | | stroke and heart disease is more accurately |
| You may not 'feel' this type of inflammation, but | | | | determined than with tests of blood lipids levels |
| scientists believe chronic inflammation is involved in the | | | | (cholesterol and triglycerides) alone. |
| development of heart disease. It can lead to damage | | | | Although the American Heart Association does not |
| to blood vessels and atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, | | | | define chronic inflammation or CRP levels as |
| and obesity. | | | | independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease, |
| Chronic inflammation in the blood vessels can be | | | | they have noted the importance of blood tests for |
| caused by smoking, hypertension and the injury to the | | | | CRP. While CRP is not recommended as a screening |
| vessels that results from it, oxidative stress, and high | | | | tool for heart disease risk for everyone, a CRP blood |
| blood glucose. | | | | test can be helpful in determining how to treat an |
| Although the 'lipid hypothesis' is the most commonly | | | | individual who is already at an increased risk for heart |
| recognized explanation for why we develop | | | | disease. |
| cardiovascular diseases, many people who have | | | | When measuring CRP in the blood, a test known as |
| normal blood lipid levels still have heart attacks, strokes, | | | | the highly sensitive C-reactive protein test (hs-CRP) is |
| and develop atherosclerosis and other vessel | | | | performed. The American Heart Association and the |
| diseases. Inflammation and the resulting damage to | | | | Centers for Disease Control agreed to the following |
| blood vessels may be one explanation for these | | | | translations of CRP blood levels: |
| cases which are unexplained by blood lipids. | | | | Low risk: 3.0 mg/L |
| How is Inflammation Measured? | | | | Inflammation and Other Vessel Diseases |
| Inflammation is an immune response and, as such, | | | | Heart attack and stroke aren't the only conditions that |
| involves very complex cellular activity and pathways. | | | | may be affected by the level of CRP in the blood. This |
| Many events within the vascular system can lead to | | | | isn't surprising considering that the health of blood |
| the production of inflammatory substances. And the | | | | vessels is important to all body systems. Vascular |
| release of these substances leads to additional cellular | | | | dementia and cerebral small vessel disease have been |
| events and responses. | | | | found to be related to higher blood levels of CRP. |
| Scientists have identified certain substances as | | | | Should You Try to Lower CRP? |
| markers of inflammation. In other words, when | | | | Because of the strong relationship between high levels |
| inflammation occurs, the level of these substances | | | | of CRP and risk of heart diseases, scientists are |
| goes up as part of the immune response. One such | | | | studying whether treating individuals to lower CRP |
| substance is C-reactive protein (CRP.) | | | | levels will result in lower risk. For example, statins (one |
| People who have high levels of CRP are more likely to | | | | class of cholesterol reducing medications) have been |
| have a heart attack, stroke, diabetes and metabolic | | | | shown to lower CRP levels and some studies indicate |
| syndrome. As with any biomarker, it is not fully known | | | | that people with normal blood lipids can still benefit from |
| whether high levels of CRP cause damage and | | | | statin therapy resulting in lowered blood CRP. |
| subsequent disease or whether high levels of CRP | | | | Based on the existing evidence, however, the |
| just happen to coincide with other events that occur in | | | | American Heart Association does not advocate |
| heart disease and cause the damage. | | | | CRP-lowering treatments to reduce heart disease risk. |
| Other substances have also been identified as possible | | | | This is an active area of research, though, and it is |
| markers of inflammation when determining | | | | possible that in the future there will be commonly |
| cardiovascular disease risk. These include SAA, | | | | available treatments to lower CRP. |