Table 1 lists baseline characteristics. Mutation carriers had significantly decreased total cholesterol/HDL-C (P = 0.04) and APOB/APOA-I (P = 0.04) ratios, suggesting reduced risk for atherosclerosis. In addition, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were decreased by approximately 50% in the mutation carriers (P = 0.06), suggesting reduced systemic inflammatory status and lower atherosclerotic risk in carriers (5). This evidence concerns the gene CRP and atherosclerosis.