title: C-reactive protein as a marker for acute coronary syndromes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For several years, acute coronary syndromes have been perceived as causing the most hospital admissions, and even hospital mortality. The syndrome of unstable angina frequently progresses to acute myocardial infarction but its pathogenesis is poorly understood, and prognosis determination is still problematic. We tested the hypothesis that measurement of the C-reactive protein in patients admitted for chest pain could be a marker for acute coronary syndromes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 110 patients admitted with suspected ischaemic heart disease, but without elevated serum creatine-kinase levels at the time of hospital admission. Patients were subsequently divided into two groups based on their final diagnosis: group 1 comprised patients with unstable angina; group 2 patients with acute myocardial infarction. We measured the C-reactive protein at the time of hospital admission. The concentration of C-reactive protein was elevated in 59% of the patients with a final diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, and in 5% of the patients with a final diagnosis of unstable angina, (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that C-reactive protein levels measured at the time of admission in patients with suspected ischaemic heart disease could be a marker for acute coronary syndromes, and helpful in identifying patients at high risk for acute myocardial infarction. Measurement of C-reactive protein may have practical clinical significance in the management of patients hospitalized for suspected acute coronary syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Center, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mach
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lovis
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaspoz
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouillie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rutishauser
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood*; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003402:Creatine Kinase