[What are the biomarkers of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk?].

A large number of novel biomarkers of cardiovascular risk have recently been identified. To be implemented in clinical practice these biomarkers should fulfill certain requirements, such as independance of other risk factors, improvement of the prediction by global risk assessment, and a therapeutic implication (modifiable risk). Some of these new risk markers have shown a clinical importance under certain circumstances (hsCRP, Lp(a), markers of renal insufficiency, or fibrinogen). Among these, only lowering of hsCRP (in addition to the decrease of LDL-cholesterol) by statins has shown a reduction of the risk of cardiovascular events. The use of new biomarkers should be restricted to persons with intermediate global risk since it allows a new risk stratification.