CRP level in heart failure

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

C-reactive protein is an acute-phase reactant synthesized by hepatocytes in response to the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6. Multivariate analysis has indicated that an increased CRP level is an independent predictor of adverse outcome in patients with acute or chronic heart failure (Vasan et al., Framingham Heart Study, Circulation, 2003).

However, elevated CRP levels lack specificity; for example, acute or chronic infection, cigarette smoking, acute coronary syndromes, and active inflammatory states are frequently associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein.