Inflammatory biomarkers in peripheral arterial disease

Biochemical markers have the potential to aid the vascular specialist in many ways. On a daily basis, we rely on such markers as d-dimer to help exclude thromboembolic disease and thus limit low-probability ultrasound imaging. Additionally, we use troponin levels to determine myocardial events perioperatively. During the past decade, use of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein has been recommended by the American Heart Association to further stratify patient cardiovascular risk, and has been studied more extensively in patients with peripheral vascular disease. This review details clinical information published during the past several decades on the application of serum C-reactive protein levels in peripheral arterial disease patients in correlation with disease severity and likelihood of future cardiovascular events, including recent predictive models.