Heart disease: determination of the level of c-reactive protein (crp)

HEART DISEASE: DETERMINATION OF THE LEVEL OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP)

The level of C-reactive protein or CRP is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Inflammation (swelling) of the arteries is one of the risk factors. It has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and peripheral artery disease.

Doctors can determine the level of C-reactive protein in your blood. The body produces CRP in response to the ongoing inflammation process. Therefore, CRP is a marker of inflammation; its presence indicates an increase in the inflammatory process in the body.

CRP and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

In analysis with a large number of patients, the relationship between the level of CRP and the level of cardiovascular risk was revealed. It is assumed that the level of CRP helps to predict cardiovascular risk to the same extent as cholesterol levels. Data from the Doctors' Health Study, a clinical analysis involving 18,000 supposedly healthy doctors, showed that elevated levels of CRP were associated with a threefold increase in the risk of heart risk.

CRP levels from the Harvard Women's Health analysis were more accurate than cholesterol levels in predicting coronary problems. Twelve different markers of inflammation were monitored in healthy postmenopausal women. After 3 years, the CRP level was the most reliable predictor of risk. The number of women with the highest CRP levels who died of coronary artery disease or suffered a non-fatal heart attack or stroke was four times higher in the group. They also needed procedures such as angioplasty (manipulation that opens clogged arteries with a flexible tube) or bypass surgery more often than women in the group with lower CRP levels.

How is the Level of CRP Determined?

The level of CRP can be determined with a simple blood test, which can be done simultaneously with the analysis of cholesterol levels. One of these analyses is the highly sensitive CRP test (hs–CRP, which is also called the ultra-sensitive CRP test or us-CRP).

The risk is calculated based on the results of your test.

The Level of CRP

CRP Level	The Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Less than 1.0 mg/l	Low
1.0 – 2.9 mg/l	Average
Above 3.0 mg/l	High

It should be noted that inflammation resulting from conditions such as infection, general malaise, or severe exacerbation of arthritis can trigger an increase in CRP levels. Before being tested for CRP, you should report your other illnesses.

Should I Check My CRP Level?

The American Heart Association suggests that the hs-CRP test may be useful in deciding whether more intensive treatment is needed in people with an average risk level. And those at high risk should be treated aggressively, regardless of their hs-CRP level.

The American Heart Association does not recommend the hs-CRP test as a routine analysis in people with a low risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Having the following risk factors increases your risk of heart disease:

A previous heart attack or stroke.
The presence of diseases of the cardiovascular system in the family history.
Elevated levels of total and LDL cholesterol.
Low HDL cholesterol.
High blood pressure.
Male or female in the postmenopausal period.
Smoking.
Uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure.
Low physical activity.
Obesity or overweight.

In addition, according to the analysis, it can be assumed that monitoring the level of CRP may be useful before undergoing such a method of heart treatment as angioplasty, and also that its high levels increase the risk of re-closure of the artery after balloon angioplasty. Ask your doctor to give you recommendations about your particular situation.

How to Treat Elevated CRP Levels?

Everyone should change their lifestyle in accordance with the recommendations listed below in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially with high or medium levels of CRP:

Eating a heart-healthy diet.
Reduction of elevated cholesterol levels.
Maintaining a healthy weight.
Regular physical activity.
Control of diabetes and high blood pressure.
Cessation of smoking.
Reducing the amount of alcohol consumed.

Taking aspirin in people with elevated CRP levels may be a prevention of cardiovascular disease. Statins, the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, can also reduce CRP levels.

Please note that all laboratory analysis aimed at identifying the risk of cardiovascular diseases can be performed in the clinical diagnostic laboratory OLYMP.