Objective To study the correlation between serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and carotid atherosclerosis.Methods 161 Volunteers from a community in ~ city aged from 25 to 90 were collected in this study.The serum level of hs-CRP in these volunteers were measured and separated into high hs-CRP group and hs-CRP normal group based on the result.The carotid atherosclerosis was detected by the color Doppler ultrasound to check intima-media thickness (IMT), and measure the state of carotid artery atherosclerosis and the rate of vessel stenosis.Results The average age in high hs-CRP group was higher than that in hs-CRP normal group, which showed significant difference [(60± 13) years vs (48±7) years, t=-7.81, P<0.01] . The common carotid artery IMT, internal carotid artery IMT and carotid artery plaque in high hs-CRP group were (0.86±0.16) mm, (0.74± 0.11)mm and 88.24% respectively, while they were (0.76±0.12) mm, (0.68±0.06) mm and 36.84% in hs-CRP normal group, which showed significant difference between two groups (t=-4.39, P<0.001; t=-3.56, P=0.001; X2=35.96, P<0.001).Compared with that in hs-CRP normal group (18.5%, 3.7%) , the detection rate of stenosis in common carotid artery and internal carotid artery in high hs-CRP group were 45.0% and 17.5%, which showed significant difference (X2=1 2.70, P<0.001; X2=8.11, P=0.004).Conclusion High level ofhs-CRP could enhance carotid atherosclerosis.