C‐reactive protein (CRP) has long been considered a prototypic biomarker of subclinical inflammation.2 Since analytical standards were defined for its measurement,3 the high‐sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP) assay is considered a sensitive predictor of atherosclerosis, diabetes and coronary heart diseases also in apparently healthy individuals.4–7. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is atherosclerosis.