C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein your liver produces as part of your immune system response to injury or infection. It's also produced by muscle cells in the coronary arteries. CRP may be used to detect early postoperative wound infection and to follow therapeutic response to anti-inflammatory agents. CRP is a marker for inflammation somewhere in the body. However, CRP tests can't pinpoint where in the body inflammation may be occurring. Inflammation plays a central role in the process of atherosclerosis, in which fatty deposits clog your arteries. While measuring CRP alone won't tell your doctor your risk of heart disease, factoring in CRP test results with other blood tests results and risk factors for heart disease helps create an overall picture of your heart health. High levels of CRP in your blood may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack and sudden cardiac death. High levels of CRP appear to be less useful in predicting your risk of a stroke. The American Heart Association doesn't yet recommend CRP screening for the general public, only those at known risk of heart disease. Recent research indicates CRP testing isn't much better at predicting your heart disease risk than is assessing traditional risk factors, such as high cholesterol, obesity and smoking. Cholesterol-lowering statin medications may reduce CRP levels and decrease your cardiovascular risk.