Atherosclerosis is the main underlying pathology of cardiovascular disease and is precipitated by various hereditary and non-hereditary risk factors. Inflammation is considered an important step in the progression of atherosclerosis and involves numerous cells, mediators and cellular procedures. Therefore, a biomarker able to determine the vascular inflammatory status is imperative as the combination of inflammatory biomarkers with the classic risk factors might provide further information about atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular risk. The identification of novel inflammatory molecules and the improvement in analytical methods allows the potential implementation of these tests in every day clinical practice. In the current article, we focus on the role of established and novel biomarkers in atherosclerosis progression and in the determination of cardiovascular risk. We also present recent data concerning the risk stratification of patients according to their inflammatory status and the possible anti-inflammatory treatment strategies.