title: Preoperative C-reactive protein level and outcome following coronary surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been suggested that a preoperative level of C-reactive protein (CRP)>5mg/l is predictive of postoperative complications in cardiac surgery patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 113 primary isolated coronary artery bypass patients, CRP was determined preoperatively and fibrinogen, interleukine 6, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, platelets and white blood cells count measured before surgery, 24, 48 and 72h thereafter and at hospital discharge. The clinical course of all cases was prospectively recorded. Data were then analysed according to the preoperative CRP level by dividing the patients into two groups (CRP>5mg/l or CRP<5mg/l).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The in-hospital results were similar between the two patients groups. Even the postoperative haematic inflammatory markers did not significantly differ according to the preoperative CRP level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this prospective study, a preoperative level of CRP>5mg/l did not predict in-hospital postoperative complications nor influence the extent of the inflammatory activation in primary isolated coronary bypass patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mgaudino@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nasso
authors.forename: Felicita
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andreotti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minniti
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iacoviello
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schiavello
authors.forename: Gianfederico
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Possati
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000032:analysis; D010976:Platelet Count; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein