CRP and atherosclerosis: The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of CRP with vascular function and structure in RA to determine if CRP is likely to be a useful marker of sub-clinical atherosclerosis and increased CVD risk in RA and whether CRP retains its association with subclinical CVD in a systemic inflammatory condition where a major stimulus to production of CRP arises from inflammation outwith atherosclerotic plaques.