CRP and pro-BNP was higher among patients with moderate or severe aortic or mitral regurgitation in ECHO 2005 compared to patients without valvular regurgitation (CRP: median 2.5 mg l−1 (range 0.2–43 mg l−1) and 1.1 mg l−1 (0.6–8.8 mg l−1), P=0.015; pro-BNP: median 24 pmol l−1 (range 4–201 pmol l−1) and 10 pmol l−1 (range 4–53 pmol l−1), P=0.006). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is mitral valve insufficiency.