CRP and endothelial dysfunction: Elevation of us-CRP in women is associated with increased CVR due to chronic vascular inflammation, which promotes endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerotic plaque instability, and thrombotic activation.137 Hormonal factors modulate that relation, such as menopause, in which estrogen decline increases us-CRP (~15-25%), which correlates with higher arterial stiffness and exacerbated inflammatory response.73