title: [C-reactive protein levels determined by an ultrasensitive method in a healthy Hungarian population].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein (CRP) is a well-known acute phase protein. The concentration of CRP in serum is increased in response to inflammatory stimuli. Increased levels serve to identify organic disease, to monitor disease activity and to assist differential diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the authors' cross-sectional study was to determine CRP distribution of the healthy Hungarian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  207 (79 male, 128 female; mean age: 4 +/- 68 years) healthy blood donors were enrolled for the study. The following parameters were registered: sex, age, body mass index, smoking habits, diabetes mellitus and blood pressure. Serum samples were assayed for total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin and for white blood cell count. CRP was measured by ultrasensitive, particle enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRP levels were less than 5 mg/L in 81% of the blood donors. Mean level of CRP in the study population was 3.57 mg/L (SD +/- 5.33); the distribution was comparable to the data of already published studies. Comparing laboratory parameters and the risk status stratified according to CRP levels (less or more than 5 mg/L) significant differences were found in BMI (p = 0.0015), in total serum cholesterol (p = 0.0136), in triglyceride (p < 0.0001), in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.0001), in white blood cell (p = 0.0007) and granulocyte count (p = 0.0014). Significant correlation was found between age and the concentration CRP (r = 0.22; p = 0.0011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CRP measurement by ultrasensitive method is suitable for cardiovascular risk estimation in apparently healthy men and women. Risk prediction adapted for the Hungarian situation may be stimulated by these data.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis Egyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Er- és Szívsebészeti Klinika, Budapest. dosaedit@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dósa
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Entz
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selmeci
authors.forename: Szilvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walentin
authors.forename: Mónika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kleiber
authors.forename: Kiss Szabolcs
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rugonfalvi
authors.forename: Nóra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosszúfalusi
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Füst
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Prohászka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol