[The relationship between serum C-reactive protein levels and coronary artery disease in patients with stable angina pectoris and positive exercise stress test].
OBJECTIVE
In this study we aimed to investigate whether serum C- reactive protein (CRP) levels are related with the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and selection of management approaches in stable angina pectoris (SAP).


METHODS
Overall 134 patients (pts) with SAP and positive exercise stress test were investigated. All pts were divided into two groups according to the baseline levels of CRP. In group 1 (mean age 57.8+/-10.3 years) there were 41 pts with the level of CRP >0.50mg/dl (high levels of CRP) and group 2 consisted of 93 pts (mean age 56.0+/-11.7 years) with the CRP levels <0.50mg/dl (normal levels of CRP). We investigated the relationship between CRP levels with coronary artery disease and treatment strategies.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in age, sex, hypertension and hyperlipidemia between groups. In group 1 (n=41) 36 pts, and in group 2 (n=93) 58 pts had CAD (p= 0.004). We found statistically significant relationship between high levels of CRP and smoking and diabetes mellitus. After adjustment of these risk factors by multivariate regression analyses the CRP association with CAD become attenuated but was still statistically significant (p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
In this study we found that high level CRP is an independent strong marker of CAD in middle-aged patients with stable angina and positive treadmill exercise test. There was no correlation between CRP levels and interventional procedures.
Türkoğlu
E Ipek
EI
Department of Cardiology, Medical Faculty, Ege University, Izmir. dripek73@yahoo.com
Gürgün
Cemil
C
Zoghi
Mehdi
M
Türkoğlu
Cüneyt
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein