CRP and pulmonary embolism: Recently, both epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that inflammatory and immune response play important roles in pulmonary embolism (PE): gene expression of type I and II IFN was significantly associated with PE[59]; protein levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogene, and leukocyte count were associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)[60]; gene expression profiling of lung tissues in PE has identified differentially expressed genes enriched in inflammatory, defense and immune response pathways[53].