A blood protein that is a marker for inflammation and high blood pressure may be a stronger predictor of heart attack than cholesterol, say US researchers. “This is the first major demonstration that C-reactive protein levels may help us predict the risk of developing hypertension,” said Howard Sesso, lead author of the study published in Journal of the American Medical Association.
Increased levels of the protein are associated with an inflammatory response. Inflammation can be measured with a simple and inexpensive blood test for the protein.