Researchers Discover New Risk Factor For Cardiovascular Disease, And A Way To Control It
Posted Nov 09 2008 10:05pm
A team of international researchers – including scientists from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and McGill University – have discovered that having high levels of particular protein puts patients at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The results of the study were so conclusive that the clinical trial had to be stopped before its scheduled completion date.
Researchers associated with the international JUPITER Project have demonstrated that high levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) leads to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This risk decreases by up to 44% if the patients are treated with statin medications.
Dr. Jacques Genest, of the Research Institute of the MUHC and McGill’s Faculty of Medicine led the Canadian component of the JUPITER clinical study, which was initiated by Dr. Paul Ridker of the Harvard University Faculty of Medicine.
“The risk of cardiovascular disease due to increased hs-CRP levels has been greatly underestimated until now,” according to Dr Genest. “Our results show that this is an extremely important indicator that doctors will have to consider in the future.”
A team of international researchers – including scientists from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and McGill University – have discovered that having high levels of particular protein puts patients at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The results of the study were so conclusive that the clinical trial had to be stopped before its scheduled completion date.
Researchers associated with the international JUPITER Project have demonstrated that high levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) leads to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This risk decreases by up to 44% if the patients are treated with statin medications.
Dr. Jacques Genest, of the Research Institute of the MUHC and McGill’s Faculty of Medicine led the Canadian component of the JUPITER clinical study, which was initiated by Dr. Paul Ridker of the Harvard University Faculty of Medicine.
“The risk of cardiovascular disease due to increased hs-CRP levels has been greatly underestimated until now,” according to Dr Genest. “Our results show that this is an extremely important indicator that doctors will have to consider in the future.”
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