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CRP and Heart Disease C-reactive protein is produced by the liver and is found during episodes of acute inflammation. CRP interacts with the complement system, one of the body's immunologic defense mechanisms. CRP testing has traditionally been performed in the immunology laboratory as an indicator of inflammation.Recent technologic developments have made it possible to detect lower concentrations of CRP using immunochemisty techniques. Studies now suggest that these low, previously undetectable, levels of CRP may be found in patients with coronary heart disease, sudden death, and peripheral arterial disease. While the role that CRP plays in CHD is uncertain, it is considered to be a positive risk factor for CHD. Guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association call for screening for low levels of C-reactive protein using the highly sensitive immunochemistry method. Some experts believe that the presence of low levels of CRP, together with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking, might indicate the need for a more aggressive preventative treatment program. George Mensah, chief of the CDC's cardiovascular health program, said the CRP test is "as good as cholesterol for predicting heart attack or stroke" in a certain sub-group of patients shown to be at moderate risk for CHD. High-sensitivity methods of detecting low levels of CRP are available for a number of chemistry platforms. One manufacturer of hematology analyzers includes high-sensitivity CRP on one of its models. |
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