More news on CRP here. It now looks as though it might get a promotion to the premier division of cardiac risk markers. Recent studies show that it is an independent risk factor for heart disease. A bit more work needs to done to see if it will be a useful population screening test but those interested in finding out their own levels can “come on down”.

CRP is a bit of a puzzle. While raised levels are associated with a risk of athersclerosis it would appear here that those of us with a naturally high CRP are not at increased risk. The obvious conclusion is that a raised CRP in a normal individual is a marker for an underlying disorder that does increase the risk of heart disease. Unfortunately the waters have been muddied slightly by the results of the JUPITER trial here where a statin given to individuals with a raised CRP and no other known risk factors was so successful the trial was halted early.