Test May Help in Heart Attacks
 (Health AP, 1/28/03)

New guidelines drawn up the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend testing for C-reactive protein (CRP) in Americans at moderate risk for heart disease. CRP is a protein that the body uses in fighting inflammation due to injury or disease and elevated levels of this protein indicate an increased risk of heart attack and strokes. Studies show that the inflammation underlying the high CRP level may damage blood vessels and cause fatty deposits to burst. The logic behind testing only those at moderate risk for heart disease is that most people judged at low risk would not benefit from the testing; while those at high risk should already be undergoing aggressive treatment