How can C-reactive protein (CRP) values predict potential heart disease?
According to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the following guidelines are recommended for the assessment of cardiovascular risk in regards to CRP levels: • Low risk for cardiovascular disease if CRP is 1 milligram (mg) per liter or less • Moderate risk for cardiovascular disease if CRP is between 1 and 3 mg per liter • High risk for cardiovascular disease if CRP greater than 3 mg per liter CRP level of greater than 10 mg per liter may be seen in an acute plaque rupture such as, a heart attack or stroke, provided there is no other explanation for the elevated level (other inflammatory or infectious process). Should I have my C-reactive protein (CRP) level tested? Checking the CRP level for the entire adult population is not recommended. Some experts recommend checking the serum CRP level routinely along with the cholesterol level; however, although this is not widely accepted. Ideally, for cardiac risk testing, it is advisable to use the av
