EDITOR—Higher C reactive protein concentrations indicate increased risk of coronary and cerebrovascular events in otherwise healthy individuals1 and a worse prognosis in myocardial infarction2 and ischaemic stroke.3 According to Pepys and Berger, the available data support its potential role as a marker of cardiovascular risk.4 To be of clinical use, however, the protein must have an independent prognostic value over and above that of the data already routinely available.

In patients with acute myocardial infarction or ischaemic stroke the extent of …