title: Is high-sensitivity C-reactive protein associated with carotid atherosclerosis in healthy Koreans?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a positive association between chronic inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular disease, but whether there is an association between C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid atherosclerosis is controversial. We investigated the relationship between high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) levels and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in healthy Koreans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured hsCRP levels, the carotid IMT, and conventional cardiovascular risk factors including obesity parameters, blood pressure, lipid profiles, insulin resistance, and smoking habits in 820 volunteers (35-79 years old) in a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher hsCRP quartile groups had higher mean IMTs, as compared with the lowest quartile (P < 0.001 for the trend across quartiles). However, after adjustment for age, the relationship between hsCRP level and IMT was substantially weaker (P = 0.018). After additional adjustments for conventional cardiovascular risk factors, no significant association was observed (P = 0.548). The unadjusted risk for a high carotid IMT value (> or = 1.0 mm) was also positively related to hsCRP quartile, but this relationship was not significant after adjustment for age and other cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both hsCRP levels and the carotid IMT were strongly correlated with conventional cardiovascular risk factors, but there was no independent association between hsCRP levels and carotid IMT in healthy Korean adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hee Choi
authors.forename: Hyeon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chang Kim
authors.forename: Chul
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woo Ahn
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keun Cho
authors.forename: Bong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soo Cha
authors.forename: Yoon-Sok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Kwan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Woo Lee
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chul Lee
authors.forename: Kap
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bum Huh
authors.forename: Dae-Jung
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein