CRP and chronic kidney disease: Detailed correlation analysis of MCs with inflammatory cells such as T-cells and macrophages inside plaques subregions revealed a positive association with T-cells in end-stage CKD specimens and a significant correlation between the MC score within the plaque and the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, again suggesting a potential link of MCs to local intraplaque T-cell and macrophage activation and also to systemic inflammation.