How is C-reactive protein level related to the risk of heart attack?

A C-reactive protein (CRP) test is a blood test that measures the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP rises in the blood with inflammation from certain conditions. Since inflammation is believed to play a role in the development of coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis), this test may be added to the screening battery of cholesterol and other lipid tests to help detect people at risk for a heart attack.

Silent inflammation is an important factor in the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. To measure the degree of inflammation, physicians determine the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. This is one of the acute phase proteins that increase during systemic inflammation. Most studies show that the higher the CRP level, the higher the risk of c, even in people with low LDL cholesterol.

If the CRP level is lower than 1.0 milligrams per liter (mg/L), there is a low risk of developing cardiovascular disease. If CRP is between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/L, there is an average risk. If CRP is higher than 3.0 mg/L, there is a high risk.

Dietary interventions alone have been shown to lower CRP levels. In particular, the Mediterranean diet can be quite effective in lowering CRP levels to normal.

Studies show that people with the highest C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are about twice as likely to develop coronary artery disease and suffer a heart attack or other cardiac event as people with the lowest levels. As a result, CRP is now used along with other markers (such as cholesterol and blood pressure) to estimate cardiovascular risk.