La proteína C reactiva como blanco terapéutico en la prevención cardiovascular: ¿ficción o realidad?

C-reactive protein, an acute-phase reactant that plays a role in the innate immune response, has emerged as a prognostic biomarker for cardiovascular events in apparently healthy individuals and for event recurrence in patients with established coronary artery disease. Its possible usefulness not only for prognosis, but also as a therapeutic target, has made C-reactive protein the most thoroughly investigated inflammatory marker during the last 10 years. This paper describes some features of the relationship between C-reactive protein and coronary artery disease. It also discusses lifestyle and pharmacological interventions, particularly the use of statins, that may be associated with lower levels of this biomarker. These factors have contributed to the current view that C-reactive protein may serve as an indicator of responses to therapies intended for use in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.