Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
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 Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
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 Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (48)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hirschfield, G.M.
Right arrow Articles by Pepys, M.B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hirschfield, G.M.
Right arrow Articles by Pepys, M.B.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Q J Med 2003; 96: 793-807
© 2003 Association of Physicians


Review

C-reactive protein and cardiovascular disease: new insights from an old molecule

G.M. Hirschfield and M.B. Pepys

From the Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, London, UK

The classical acute-phase protein, C-reactive protein (CRP), is an exquisitely sensitive systemic marker of disease with broad clinical utility for monitoring and differential diagnosis. Inflammation, the key regulator of CRP synthesis, plays a pivotal role in atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease. There is a powerful predictive association between raised serum CRP values and the outcome of acute coronary syndromes, and, remarkably, between even modestly increased CRP production and future atherothrombotic events in otherwise healthy individuals. Baseline CRP values also reflect metabolic states associated with atherothrombotic events. The presence of CRP within most atherosclerotic plaques and all acute myocardial infarction lesions, coupled with binding of CRP to lipoproteins and its capacity for pro-inflammatory complement activation, suggests that CRP may contribute to the pathogenesis and complications of cardiovascular disease. We review the biological properties of CRP, the association between CRP and cardiovascular disease, and the possibility that CRP may be a novel therapeutic target.

Address correspondence to Dr G.M. Hirschfield or Professor M.B. Pepys, Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF. e-mail: g.hirschfield{at}rfc.ucl.ac.uk or m.pepys{at}rfc.ucl.ac.uk


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


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
M. Kolz, W. Koenig, M. Muller, M. Andreani, S. Greven, T. Illig, N. Khuseyinova, D. Panagiotakos, G. Pershagen, V. Salomaa, et al.
DNA variants, plasma levels and variability of C-reactive protein in myocardial infarction survivors: results from the AIRGENE study
Eur. Heart J., May 2, 2008; 29(10): 1250 - 1258.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Chem.Home page
C. Marsik, L. Kazemi-Shirazi, T. Schickbauer, S. Winkler, C. Joukhadar, O. F. Wagner, and G. Endler
C-Reactive Protein and All-Cause Mortality in a Large Hospital-Based Cohort
Clin. Chem., February 1, 2008; 54(2): 343 - 349.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Exp. Med.Home page
S. Jaillon, G. Peri, Y. Delneste, I. Fremaux, A. Doni, F. Moalli, C. Garlanda, L. Romani, H. Gascan, S. Bellocchio, et al.
The humoral pattern recognition receptor PTX3 is stored in neutrophil granules and localizes in extracellular traps
J. Exp. Med., April 16, 2007; 204(4): 793 - 804.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Chem.Home page
C. Marsik, R. Sunder-Plassmann, B. Jilma, F. M. Kovar, C. Mannhalter, O. Wagner, H. Rumpold, and G. Endler
The C-Reactive Protein +1444C/T Alteration Modulates the Inflammation and Coagulation Response in Human Endotoxemia
Clin. Chem., October 1, 2006; 52(10): 1952 - 1957.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
K M J Douglas, A V Pace, G J Treharne, A Saratzis, P Nightingale, N Erb, M J Banks, and G D Kitas
Excess recurrent cardiac events in rheumatoid arthritis patients with acute coronary syndrome
Ann Rheum Dis, March 1, 2006; 65(3): 348 - 353.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
M. Cushman, A. M. Arnold, B. M. Psaty, T. A. Manolio, L. H. Kuller, G. L. Burke, J. F. Polak, and R. P. Tracy
C-Reactive Protein and the 10-Year Incidence of Coronary Heart Disease in Older Men and Women: The Cardiovascular Health Study
Circulation, July 5, 2005; 112(1): 25 - 31.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
K. E. Taylor, J. C. Giddings, and C. W. van den Berg
C-Reactive Protein-Induced In Vitro Endothelial Cell Activation Is an Artefact Caused by Azide and Lipopolysaccharide
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., June 1, 2005; 25(6): 1225 - 1230.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
M. V. Suresh, S. K. Singh, and A. Agrawal
Interaction of Calcium-bound C-reactive Protein with Fibronectin Is Controlled by pH: IN VIVO IMPLICATIONS
J. Biol. Chem., December 10, 2004; 279(50): 52552 - 52557.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
C. W. van den Berg, K. E. Taylor, and D. Lang
C-Reactive Protein-Induced In Vitro Vasorelaxation Is an Artefact Caused by the Presence of Sodium Azide in Commercial Preparations
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., October 1, 2004; 24(10): e168 - e171.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci.Home page
J. E. Morley and R. N. Baumgartner
Cytokine-Related Aging Process
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., September 1, 2004; 59(9): M924 - M929.
[Full Text] [PDF]



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.