C-Reactive Protein and secondary prevention of coronary events

Accumulating data suggest that in ischemic syndromes, the activation of the inflammatory process plays a critical role. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a useful marker of inflammation in patients with ischemic heart diseases, par ticularly unstable angina (UA) and acute myocardial infarction. CRP may sep arate patients into two groups, one with low CRP levels and low in-hospital risk and one with high CRP levels and high in-hospital risk of major coron ary events. When considering risk stratification of patients with acute cor onary syndromes, the measurement of CRP seems to add further information to cardiac troponins. The seronegativity of both markers is associated with v ery low risk of myocardial infarction, while 15% of patients with Ml have e levated CRP with negative troponins. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.