My doctor recently checked a CRP test, and it was very high. What do I do about this? - E
Dear E,
Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have now been validated as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. The problem is, we don't really know what to do about those elevated CRP levels. CRP levels may just be a marker for increased risk, and not the cause of increased risk. So reducing the CRP levels, per se, may or may not turn out to be important.
There is evidence that the statin drugs (drugs used to lower cholesterol) can reduce markers of inflammation (such as CRP), and studies have been started to see whether this effect is real, and whether it offers any clinical benefit. But for now, there is no real evidence that patients with elevated CRP and normal cholesterol levels should take statins.
The best way to use CRP levels is to consider them additional evidence for aggressively attacking the controllable risk factors for heart disease, such as cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, blood pressure, weight, and smoking.
The problem comes when CRP levels are measured in people with no outstanding risk factors that can be easily modified. What to do in people like you who have high CRP levels?
The answer is: nobody knows. Taking low dose aspirin (an anti-inflammatory agent) seems as good as anything. But obviously this is an unsatisfactory answer. The only good news is that there is a lot of research going on to figure out how to reduce the inflammation that participates in the progression of coronary artery disease (and that raises CRP levels). Within a few years, there should be a much better answer to your question.
