QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: GLOSSARY

Inflammation and coronary thrombosis

Inflammation is a universal reaction of body tissues to damage, characterised by heat and swelling. Under the microscope we see "inflammatory cells" invading the tissue, and in the blood we detect "inflammatory markers", ie chemicals released during inflammation, of which the most well studied is "C reactive protein" (CRP). The blood levels of these inflammatory markers are raised in patients with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. This encourages those who hold with the inflammatory theory.

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