Association between hs-CRP levels and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to assess the relationship between serum inflammatory marker of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with the presence and severity of angiographically evaluated coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in cardiac catheterisation unit at Al-Hussein Medical City, Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital/ Karbala from November 2014 to September 2015. It included 76 patients (49 males and 27 females) who presented with the signs and
symptoms of CAD and has undergone angiography. Serum levels of hs-CRP were measured in patients with CAD before entering into the
catheterisation room. After coronary angiography was done for all patients, the extent and severity of CAD was correlated with serum levels of hs-CRP. The extent of CAD was determined by angiography according to the number of coronary arteries involved and degree of narrowing in coronary artery diameter. The serum level of hs-CRP was measured by ELISA technique.
Results The mean ± SD age of patients was 57.76 ± 9.69 (ranged 35–79) years, 64.4% males and 35.6% females. Regarding the angiographic finding in patient group, it was normal in 22 patients (28.9%), single vessel involvement in 18 patients (23.7%), two vessels disease in 14 patients (18.4%) and three vessels disease in 16 patients (21.1%). The left main stem disease (LMD) was found in 6 patients (7.9%). The extent of CAD as obtained from angiographic finding had significant correlation with the serum level of hs-CRP (r = 0.736), (P = 0.000000001).
Conclusion There is a significant strong positive correlation between the extent of CAD and the serum level hs-CRP.