C Reactive protein and its relation to cardiovascular risk factors: a population based cross sectional study

Abstract

Objective-To test the hypothesis that minor chronic insults such as smoking, chronic bronchitis, and two persistent bacterial infections may be associated with increases in C reactive protein concentration within the normal range and that variations in the C reactive protein concentration in turn may be associated with levels of cardiovascular risk factors and chronic coronary heart disease.Design-Population based cross sectional study. Setting-General practices in Merton, Sutton, andWandsworth.Subjects-A random sample of 388 men aged 50-69 years from general practice registers. 612 men were invited to attend and 413 attended, of whom 25 non-white men were excluded. The first 303 of the remaining 388 men had full risk factor profiles determined.Interventions-Measurements ofserum C reactive protein concentrations by in house enzyme linked inmunosorbent assay (ELISA); other determinations by standard methods. Coronary heart disease was sought by the Rose angina questionnaire and Minnesota coded electrocardiograms.Main outcome measures-Serum C reactive protein concentrations, cardiovascular risk factor levels, and the presence of coronary heart disease.Results-Increasing age, smoking, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, Helicobacter pylori and Chlamrydia pneumoniae infections, and body mass index were all associated with raised concentrations of C reactive protein. C Reactive protein concentration was associated with raised serum fibrinogen, sialic acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and apolipoprotein B values. C Reactive protein concentration was negatively associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. There was a weaker positive relation with low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and no relation with apolipoprotein A I value. C Reactive protein concentration was also strongly associated with coronary heart disease.

Genetic and environmental contributions to plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels – a study in twins

“…However, after adjustment for all confounding covariates, estimated heritability for CRP was substantially lower (Vogel-Motulsky heritability coefficient 0.22, 95% confidence interval [À0.16-0.61]), pointing to a moderate genetic influence on the observed variability (Table 4). Similar to previous studies, 6,10,15,19,[21][22][23][24]31,44 CRP levels were strongly influenced by factors such as female gender (Po0.0005), older age (Po0.0005) or the BMI (Po0.0001). Particularly, the BMI, which has a large degree of heritability, 55,56 was significantly associated with higher plasma CRP levels in a linear multiple regression analysis.…”

“…[16][17][18] In addition, it is known that (environmental) factors such as obesity, older age, female gender, smoking, diabetes mellitus, chronic infections, lower socio-economic status, greater alcohol consumption and medications such as oral contraceptives are involved in a low-grade inflammatory response with elevated plasma CRP levels. 6,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] An aim of determining plasma CRP levels could be related to polymorphisms in upstream cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6. 13,27 IL-6 induces CRP production in hepatocytes and it is the only cytokine that can stimulate the synthesis of all other acute-phase proteins.…”

Long-term efficacy of soy-based meal replacements vs an individualized diet plan in obese type II DM patients: relative effects on weight loss, metabolic parameters, and C-reactive protein

“…A growing body of evidence suggests that adipose tissue, specifically visceral fat, is a key regulator of inflammatory responses. Elevated levels of hs-CRP have been shown to be associated with increased risk for coronary events, independent of traditional lipid risk factors (Mendall et al, 1996;Mojiminiyi et al, 2002).…”

C‐reactive protein as a marker for active coronary artery disease in patients with chest pain in the emergency room

“…9 These studies were followed by several angiographic series and by cross-sectional and case-control studies, suggesting that CRP concentrations correlated directly with the presence and severity of coronary, cerebral, and peripheral arterial atherosclerosis. [10][11][12] In addition, various studies examined CRP concentrations among patients with angina pectoris. Liuzzo et al 13 reported that in patients admitted to the hospital with acute unstable angina, CRP levels above 3 mg/l were associated with a significantly worse prognosis.…”