title: C-reactive protein level in severe stenosis of cerebral arteries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein (CRP) as a non-specific inflammatory biomarker has been demonstrated to actively contribute to all stages of atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between CRP concentrations and the severity of stenosis of cerebral arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lipid parameters and CRP levels were measured in the sera of 119 patients with stenosis of the extracranial cerebral arteries established by angiography and compared with the control group, with a normal appearance of the cerebral arteries on ultrasound examination. CRP concentrations were determined by a high-sensitivity assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRP concentrations showed a statistically significant difference in the group of patients with cerebrovascular stenosis of more than 70% compared to the control group (median value 3.4 vs. 1.5 mg/l in the control group, p < 0.05). At logistic regression analysis, CRP was significantly associated with stenosis of more than 70%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to traditional biochemical risk markers, an elevated CRP level measured on automated analysers using a high-sensitivity assay may be useful in the detection of patients with severe stenosis of the cerebral arteries.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Surgery, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia. zlata.mestric@zg.t-com.hr
authors.forename: Zlata
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Flegar-Mestrić
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vrhovski-Hebrang
authors.forename: Vlatka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Preden-Kereković
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perkov
authors.forename: Andrija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hebrang
authors.forename: Ante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grga
authors.forename: Dragutin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Janus
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vidjak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein