C-Reactive Protein and Atherosclerosis of the Thoracic Aorta

Background

An association between systemic inflammatory markers and the presence and severity of atherosclerotic plaques has not been demonstrated in a nonselected population. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of inflammatory markers with aortic atherosclerotic plaques in a sample of the general population and in a subgroup free of clinical vascular disease.

Methods

Transesophageal echocardiography was...