Inflammatory findings
But orders for CRP tests are bound to rise, and more patients will hear that their CRP is high. If so, the test should be redone in two weeks and the results averaged. Besides statins, losing a few pounds can reduce CRP. In one study, 25 percent of obese participants had elevated CRP compared with 10 percent for those who were overweight and 5 percent for those of normal weight. Even a little regular exercise can be beneficial. Researchers reported recently that among 3,000 healthy Greek individuals, the CRP of those who engaged in modest regular physical activity averaged about 20 percent below that of those who were sedentary. Strangely, aspirin doesn't seem to reduce CRP. Researchers found that various doses of aspirin over a month had little effect on CRP in a group of 57 people. Drugs aimed specifically at lowering CRP are being tested--among them Actos, a diabetes medication, and Acomplia, an antiobesity drug.
Cannon has put Thornell on a high dose of Lipitor. "To people who know me," Thornell says, "the message was that if I've had a heart attack, they could."
TWIN TARGETS
After 2 1/2 years, heart patients whose LDL cholesterol and CR (C-reactive protein) levels both were driven down had a lower rate of heart attacks and heart-related deaths than did patients with reduced LDL or CRP alone.
[Chart data]
Met neither goal 10 pct.
Met cholesterol goal 7 pct.
Met CRP goal 7 pct.
Met both goals 5 pct.
[Relative to the first bar, the second and third bars should be .7 as long and the fourth bar should be .5 as long.]
Source: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Graphic by USN&WR
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