title: C-reactive protein in offspring is associated with the occurrence of myocardial infarction in first-degree relatives.
abstract: The relevance of elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in cardiovascular disease is gaining increasing recognition. A family history of coronary artery disease is a major determinant of coronary artery disease in the offspring. In a cohort of 1048 individuals without clinical evidence of atherosclerosis, we investigated the relationships between CRP levels and a family history of myocardial infarction. We measured CRP, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and some genetic polymorphisms: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (4G/5G), fibrinogen (Bbeta-chain G-->A(-455)), and angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (I/D). Clinical data were collected by a World Health Organization-modified questionnaire for cardiovascular disease. When compared with subjects without first-degree relatives who had suffered a myocardial infarction (n=867), subjects with such first-degree relatives (n=181) were older (P=0.001), more often hypertensive (P<0. 001), and homozygous for the 4G allele (4G/4G) of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene (P=0.003). In addition, they had a higher body mass index (P=0.036), raised plasma fibrinogen (P<0.007) and total cholesterol (P<0.001) concentrations, and CRP levels >0.33 mg/L (P=0.005). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.01 to 1. 05), total cholesterol (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.65), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/4G (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.45), and CRP levels >0.33 mg/L (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.91) were all independently associated with a positive family history of myocardial infarction. We therefore conclude that raised levels of CRP independently identify the offspring of patients with a myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Unita' di Aterosclerosi e Trombosi, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (CSS)," S Giovanni Rotondo, and Istituto di Medicina Interna e Geriatria, Palermo, Italy. ate.tro@operapadrepio.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Margaglione
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cappucci
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colaizzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vecchione
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grandone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Minno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014280:Triglycerides; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol