In our study, the observation that CRP levels were significantly higher in the DCM group compared with controls and that the increase in CRP was more pronounced in the EF ≤ 20% subgroup is consistent with these prior findings and suggests that CRP in DCM can be considered a marker not only of inflammatory burden but also of impaired ventricular function. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is familial dilated cardiomyopathy.