April 1, 2002Open Access
View Full PaperC-Reactive Protein and Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness in a Community Population
Structured PICO
Is C-Reactive Protein an independent cause of early arteriosclerosis (measured by carotid intimal medial thickness) in a community population?
P
Population
Community population
I
Intervention
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels
O
Outcome
Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness (early arteriosclerosis)surrogate
Elevated CRP is likely a mediator of conventional risk factors rather than an independent cause of early arteriosclerosis.
Abstract
It is unlikely that CRP per se is a major independent cause of early arteriosclerosis. Elevations of CRP, or less specifically chronic inflammation, may mediate the effect of certain conventional risk factors on promoting atherogenesis, especially obesity.