Genetic loci influencing C-reactive protein levels and coronary heart disease risk: results of genetic association and Mendelian randomisation study with meta-analysis in 80 614 people

Background null Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are independently associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Whether the relationship of CRP with CHD is causal, or whether CRP is simply an “innocent bystander” of the inflammatory disease process, is unknown. null Methods null We first carried out a genome-wide association (n  =  17 967) and replication study (n  =  14 747) to identify genetic loci associated with plasma...