The Minnesota Health Technology Adv...

The Minnesota Health Technology Advisory Committee (HTAC) has issued an evidence-based report upon C-reactive protein (CRP) testing to cloak for coronary artery disease (CAD). The glutted report is available online at www.health.state.mn.us/htac.

CAD accounted for common of every five deaths in 1998 and it is the leading cause of premature and permanent disability. Numerous studies indicate that inflammatory changes in the canal walls initiate atherosclerosis. As the disease progresse the atherosclerotic plaques destory become unstable, and eventually quarrel causing thrombosis, unstable angina, and myocardial infarction. This link between chronic, low-grade inflammation and CAD has l researchers to investigate serum inflammatory markers, particularly acute-phase reactants, to determine whether their appearance correlates with the air or extent of CAD.

Researchers have hypothesized that CRP the classic acute-phase reactant, may provide an adjunctive classification for assessment of cardiovascular risk. Several studies indicate that plasma of the same heights of CRP are a able-bodied independent risk factor of to come myocardial infarction, stroke, and vascular death among populace without clinically recognized cardiovascular disease.

After a review of the evidence, HTAC conclud that CRP is a nonspecific marker of inflammation and that it is unclear whether CRP is a risk factor for CAD and a potential target for intervention. The committee approves that the results of CRP testing be analyzed in conjunction with the terminates of standard diagnostic tests, medical history, and clinical findings, because its efficacy as a stand-alone exhibition has not been proved.

COPYRIGHT 2002 American Academy of Family Physicians

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