title: C-Reactive protein concentrations and angiographic characteristics of coronary lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-Reactive protein (CRP) is a strong predictor of clinical outcome in coronary artery disease (CAD), and inflammation has been implicated in the process. We aimed to evaluate whether CRP concentrations measured with a new, automated particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric method for high-sensitivity CRP may be related to specific high-risk angiographic features of coronary lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, we examined 103 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for suspected CAD. We assessed the association of preprocedural CRP concentrations with clinical presentation (unstable angina) and angiographic features of coronary lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients had unstable angina. Independent predictors of unstable angina included increased CRP [odds ratio (OR), 2.93 per 10-fold increase in CRP; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.28-6.69; P = 0.01] and the presence of macroscopic thrombus (OR, 7.08; 95% CI, 1.33-37.8; P = 0.02). Thirty-two culprit lesions had macroscopic thrombus or eccentric/irregular discrete morphology without total occlusion. Increased CRP was the strongest predictor of such features (OR, 2.04 per 10-fold increase in CRP; 95% CI, 1.03-4.04; P = 0.04), and the effect was independent of the presence of unstable angina.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients with suspected CAD undergoing coronary angiography, increased CRP is strongly associated with unstable angina and with specific high-risk features of the culprit coronary lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Athens Euroclinic, Athens 11521, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katritsis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korovesis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giazitzoglou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parissis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalivas
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Webb-Peploe
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ioannidis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haliassos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein