C-reactive protein and atherothrombosis

MB Pepys and GM Hirschfield

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

2nd Hot Topic Workshop on CRP
Leiden, The Netherlands, 25-27 April 2001

CRP 2001, 1:001

Received:	19 July 2001
Published:	26 August 2001

Meeting abstract

Circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), the classical acute phase protein and sensitive systemic marker of inflammation, significantly predict atherothrombotic events and outcome after acute myocardial infarction, demonstrating the key role of inflammation in atherosclerosis and its complications. The binding specificity of CRP for low density lipoproteins, for modified low-density lipoproteins, and for damaged and dead cells, coupled with the capacity of bound CRP to activate complement, and with the presence of CRP in atheroma and acute myocardial infarction lesions, all suggest a possible pathogenetic role of CRP. Development of drugs to block binding of CRP to its various ligands in vivo will enable this hypothesis to be tested.

This abstract is reproduced with permission from:

MB Pepys, GM Hirschfield:C-reactive protein and atherothrombosis. Ital Heart J 2001, 2: 196-199

C-reactive protein and atherothrombosis

Meeting abstract

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