The level of hs-CRP in coronary artery ectasia and its response to statin and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) was thought of as a variant of atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) which is among the most sensitive markers of systemic inflammation, and elevation of systemic and local levels of this inflammatory marker which has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in the obstructive coronary artery disease (O-CAD) are well known, but little was known in CAE. The anti-inflammatory effects of statins and the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on endothelial dysfunction are well established in atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate CRP level and its response to statin and ACE inhibitor treatment in CAE.


METHODS
We measured serum hs-CRP level in 40 CAE (26 males, mean age: 56.32 +/- 9 years) and 41 O-CAD (34 males, mean age: 57.19 +/- 10 years) patients referred for elective coronary angiography at baseline and after 3-month statin and ACE inhibitor treatment.


RESULTS
Plasma hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in CAE group than O-CAD group at baseline (2.68 +/- 66 mg/L versus 1, 64 +/- 64, resp., P < .0001). Plasma hs-CRP levels significantly decreased from baseline 3 months later in the CE (from 2.68 +/- 0.66 mg/L to 1.2 +/- 0.53 mg/L, P < .0001) as well as in the O-CAD group (from 1.64 +/- 0.64 mg/L to 1.01 +/- 0.56 mg/L, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
We think that hs-CRP measurement may be a good prognostic value in CAE patients as in stenotic ones. Further placebo-controlled studies are needed to evaluate the clinical significance of this decrease in hs-CRP.
Ozbay
Yilmaz
Y
Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Firat University, 23200 Elaziğ, Turkey.
Akbulut
Mehmet
M
Balin
Mehmet
M
Kayancicek
Hidayet
H
Baydas
Adil
A
Korkmaz
Hasan
H
D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D019821:Simvastatin