Affiliations: Section of Population Health, University of Aberdeen,
UK | Department of Public Health and Primary Care,
University of Cambridge, UK
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Nadeem Sarwar, Section of Population
Health, University of Aberdeen, Polworth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK.
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of global mortality,
with coronary heart disease (CHD) its major manifestation. Although
inflammation, the body's response to noxious stimuli, is implicated in several
stages of CHD development, the relevance of circulating levels of markers of
inflammation to CHD risk remains uncertain. This review summarizes available
epidemiological evidence for four emerging inflammatory markers implicated in
CHD (fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase
A_{2} and interleukin-6); considers their likely utility in
cardiovascular risk prediction; and outlines areas of outstanding
uncertainty.
