title: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein affects central haemodynamics and augmentation index in apparently healthy persons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Among apparently healthy women and men, elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) predict the risk of cardiovascular events and may be useful for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between inflammatory markers, augmentation index (AIx), central pulse pressure and central systolic blood pressure in apparently healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study conducted at a university teaching hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apparently healthy subjects (n = 158; 75 males, 83 females) passed a complete history and physical examination, blood tests and pulse wave analysis.AIx was significantly higher in patients with hsCRP levels above 1 mg/l (24.5 +/-9.9 versus 18.1+/-12.6%, P < 0.001). Central pulse pressure and central systolic blood pressure were significantly higher in the group with hsCRP levels above 1 mg/l. No differences between groups were shown for peripheral pulse pressure, peripheral blood pressures and estimated aortic pulse wave velocity. In multiple regression analysis, AIx correlated positively with age, female gender, short stature, mean arterial pressure, hsCRP (P = 0.026) and white blood cell count (P = 0.01), and negatively with heart rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that plasma levels of hsCRP are positively correlated with AIx, central pulse pressure and central systolic blood pressure. Apparently healthy subjects with increased inflammatory markers have increased systemic arterial stiffness, which might reflect early atherosclerotic changes. Our results suggest that hsCRP and non-invasively measured arterial stiffness could serve as additional tools, beside conventional cardiovascular risk factors, for assessment of global arterial risk and preclinical atherosclerotic changes in arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. priit.kampus@klinikum.se
authors.forename: Priit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kampus
authors.forename: Jaak
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kals
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ristimäe
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Mihkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zilmer
authors.forename: Rein
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teesalu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein