Scientists have known there is a link between C-reactive protein (CRP) and heart disease, but two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that this link might be more important than previously realized. In fact, having a high CRP level in the body might be as bad as having high cholesterol when it comes to heart disease.
The Research
CRP is a protein in the body that serves as a signal for inflammation in the body. Researchers have found that people who have high CRP levels are at greater risk for having heart attacks. In addition, researchers have discovered that "statin" medications – medications used to lower cholesterol – can also lower CRP levels. But now researchers appear to be making a case for the fact that if you treat high CRP levels with statin medications, you might also reduce the risk of heart attacks and slow the progression of heart disease.
In these two studies, statin medications were given to patients who already had heart disease. Those patients who took higher doses of statins had lower CRP levels and fewer heart attacks compared with those who took lower doses. Those who took higher doses of statins also had slower progression of their heart disease compared to those on lower doses. These findings were independent of cholesterol level findings, which means that CRP levels might be just as important to monitor as cholesterol levels. Because these studies were carried out in patients who already had heart disease, further studies need to be done to determine if treating high levels of CRP in patients without heart disease is beneficial.
Exact Link Between CRP and Heart Disease Unknown
It's not exactly clear at this time why high CRP levels are associated with more heart attacks. Doctors have found that a high CRP level, however, can signal low-grade inflammation in the body and that CRP acts as a warning of this inflammation that can trigger a heart attack. Doctors at this point also don't know where the inflammation is in the body. But they speculate that it might be from an unseen infection or even from excess fat in the body. Further research is needed to understand more about CRP.
Checking Your CRP Level
If you have risk factors for heart disease or are interested in having your CRP level checked, have a discussion with your doctor to see if he or she feels it is an appropriate test for you. CRP levels can be determined by a simple blood test. Not all insurers cover the test, but some do. In addition, not all doctors are routinely ordering the test until further information supports the importance of routinely ordering the test. At this point, experts recommend that a high CRP level should be viewed as a potential risk factor for heart disease.
People who have a high CRP should follow all the recommendations to reduce other risk factors for heart disease, such as losing weight, stopping smoking, eating right, and exercising regularly. |
