In the past decade, the important role of inflammatory processes in the development and progression of atherosclerosis has been clearly established. Over the past two years, different circulating (inflammatory) biomarkers indicating the instability of atherosclerotic plaques have been identified. These new markers do not only serve as diagnostic tools for the identification of patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction but also help us to identify high-risk patients. As a result, different markers are used clinically for risk stratification in stable coronary artery disease as well as in acute coronary syndromes.