High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Blood Test
C-reactive protein is a marker for inflammation in the arterial walls. "The presence of inflammation identifies a plaque that's prone to rupturing," says Sidney Smith, MD, chief science officer of the American Heart Association. And ruptured plaques lead to blood clots. In one study at Harvard University, women with the highest levels of C-reactive protein had four times the risk of cardiovascular problems as women with lower levels.
