CRP and atherosclerosis: CRP is not only a marker of CVD and death but also a participant in a pathogenic way, including but not limited to (a) the combination of CRP and degraded LDL can enhance complement activation and induce the expression of tissue factors [19]; (b) CRP participates in the formation of vascular calcification by promoting the phenotype transformation of vascular smooth muscle into osteoblasts [20]; (c) CRP induces and recruits monocytes in early atherosclerosis through specific CRP receptors [21].