CRP and atherosclerosis: In addition, clinical studies have shown that elevated markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), are associated with various complications of CKD, such as malnutrition, atherosclerosis, insulin and erythropoietin resistance, calcification of the coronary arteries, heart disease, anemia, and increased mortality [6,8,9].