The reclassification of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease has brought to the fore the importance of tracking inflammatory markers as a means of measuring inflammation. People at risk for heart disease should now be tested for inflammation as well as for their cholesterol level. The high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein test (hsCRP) is able to directly measure the amount of inflammation going on inside the body. The high sensitivity of the test enables it to detect very low levels of CRP, which may be an indication of coronary artery disease risk.

The hsCRP test is most beneficial in assessing the risk of atherosclerosis level of people who do not have a previous history of heart disease. It should be used in conjunction with conventional risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking and diabetes.

People with high CRP levels are three times more likely to have a heart attack, compared with those who have normal levels.

(Lindahl B, et al. Markers of myocardial damage and inflammation in relation to long-term mortality in unstable coronary artery disease. FRISC Study Group. Fragmin during
Instability in Coronary Artery Disease. N Engl J Med 2000 Oct 19;343(16):1139-47).