A simple biomarker to exclude the presence of low grade inflammation in apparently healthy individuals.
BACKGROUND
Atherosclerosis is accompanied by a low grade inflammatory response.


OBJECTIVE
To use erythrocyte aggregability as a biomarker to exclude the presence of low grade inflammatory response in apparently healthy individuals.


METHODS
The adhesiveness/aggregation of red blood cells was quantitated by using a simple slide test and image analysis.


RESULTS
We included 121 apparently healthy individuals and found a significant correlation between the degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation and either the concentration of high sensitive CRP (r = 0.6, P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.5, P < 0.0001) or fibrinogen (r = 0.5, P < 0.0001). By using certain cutoff points for the erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation test we could define individuals with a very low grade inflammatory response.


CONCLUSIONS
By using this inexpensive and rapid assessment, we could clearly discriminate between individuals with a very low inflammatory response and those with a more intense one. This biomarker should be further evaluated as a possible screening test for use in large populations of apparently healthy individuals in whom the detection of low grade inflammation might contribute to guiding appropriate lifestyle modifications and therapeutic interventions.
Berliner
Shlomo
S
Department of Internal Medicine D, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. shapiraiz@tasmc.health.gov.il
Zeltser
David
D
Shapira
Itzhak
I
Assayag
Einor Ben
EB
Mardi
Tamar
T
Serov
Jacob
J
Aharonov
Stanislav
S
Arber
Nadir
N
Rotstein
Rivka
R
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein