Elevated markers of inflammation such as C‑reactive protein (CRP) are associated with higher risk of cardiac events, and inflammation can promote atherosclerosis by enabling low‑density lipoprotein (LDL) entry into arterial walls, destabilizing plaques, and activating platelets to form clots that cause heart attacks or strokes.
high
mechanistic
Established pathophysiologic links between inflammation, atherosclerosis, plaque rupture, and thrombosis