title: C-reactive protein and rapidly progressive coronary artery disease--is there any relation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been associated with an unfavorable outcome in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and a direct participation of CRP in the atherosclerotic process has been postulated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship of high plasma CRP levels with the rapid progression of coronary atherosclerosis (RPCAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 194 patients who were readmitted and underwent repeat coronary angiography because of recurrence of symptoms following successful percutaneous coronary intervention were studied. Median angiographic follow-up time was 6 months. Rapid progression CAD was defined as the presence of a new lesion, > 25% in luminal diameter stenosis, in a previously nondiseased vessel, or deterioration of a known, nontreated lesion by at least 25%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By multivariate analysis, patients with high plasma CRP levels upon first admission were at higher risk of RPCAD. In particular, odds ration (OR) = 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-3.6; p value = 0.02 in patients with CRP = 0.5-2 mg/dl versus patients with CRP < 0.5 mg/dl, and OR = 7.1; 95% CI = 3.8-9.5; p value < 0.001 in patients with CRP > 2 mg/dl versus patients with CRP < 0.5 mg/dl.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased plasma CRP levels could possibly identify patients at high risk for the development of RPCAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tzanio Hospital, Piraeus, Greece. zairis66@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Zairis
authors.forename: Stavros J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Manousakis
authors.forename: Alexander S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Stefanidis
authors.forename: Denis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Vitalis
authors.forename: Evangelos M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tsanis
authors.forename: Seraphim M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hadjigeorgiou
authors.forename: Constantine N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Fakiolas
authors.forename: Evangelos G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Pissimissis
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Olympios
authors.forename: Stefanos G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Foussas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein