Quartile analysis of plasma CRP levels showed that AS patients in the highest quartile (>3.90 mg/l, n = 11) had elevated numbers of MC compared to those in the lowest (<1.20 mg/l, n = 11) (8.62 ± 3.41/mm2vs. 6.13 ± 1.83/mm2, P = 0.03). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is aortic stenosis.