title: Serum C-reactive protein level is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm size and may be produced by aneurysmal tissue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are characterized by extensive transmural inflammation and C-reactive protein (CRP) has emerged as an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, we evaluated a possible association between serum CRP and aneurysm dimension in patients with asymptomatic AAA. Furthermore, the possibility of CRP production by aneurysmal tissue has been examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum CRP was determined highly sensitive (hsCRP) and aneurysmal size was measured in 39 patients with AAA. The presence of CRP mRNA was assessed in the aneurysmal tissue of 16 patients. Mean (SD) hsCRP was 3.23 (2.96) mg/L. After log-transformation, hsCRP correlated significantly with aneurysmal size (r=0.477, P=0.002). When the patients were divided into 3 equally sized groups according to hsCRP level, aortic diameter increased from lowest to upper hsCRP-tertile (49 mm, 61 mm, and 67 mm, respectively; P<0.05 for 3rd versus 1st tertile). This association persisted after correction for risk factors. CRP mRNA was found in 25% of aneurysmal aortic tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report showing that serum hsCRP is associated with aneurysmal size and that-in at least some patients-CRP may be produced by aneurysmal tissue. These data underscore the inflammatory nature of AAA formation, suggesting that serum hsCRP may serve as a marker of AAA disease and that CRP produced in vascular tissue might contribute to aneurysm formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Maastricht and Cardiovascular Research Institute of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. t.vainas@ah.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Tryfon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vainas
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lubbers
authors.forename: Frank R M
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Stassen
authors.forename: Selma B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Herngreen
authors.forename: Marja P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: van Dieijen-Visser
authors.forename: Cathrien A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bruggeman
authors.forename: Peter J E H M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kitslaar
authors.forename: Geert Willem H
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Schurink
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002097:C-Reactive Protein