Direct association between C-reactive protein serum levels and endothelial dysfunction in patients with claudication.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP), a serum marker of inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction in patients with intermittent claudication.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study with stratified sampling on dependent variables of age, genre, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking status and ankle-brachial index (ABI) to select 156 patients from a target population of 4,100 patients with claudication. We assessed the flow-mediated arterial dilation (FMAD) as a reporter of endothelial function and plasma levels of hsCRP and fibrinogen.


RESULTS
Patients with a FMAD<3% (range for the lowest 5% of healthy subjects) had increased levels of plasma hsCRP (6.3 vs 2.3mg/L; p<0.05) and fibrinogen (351vs 302mg/L; p<0.05) in comparison to those with FMAD>3%. There was a negative correlation between hsCRP and FMAD(r=-0.465; p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Impaired endothelial dysfunction is association with increased plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers, and both may have a role in the aetiopathogenesis of peripheral arterial disease.
De Haro
J
J
Angiology and Vascular Surgery Service, Hospital Universitario Getafe, Madrid, Spain. deharojoaquin@yahoo.es
Acin
F
F
Lopez-Quintana
A
A
Medina
F J
FJ
Martinez-Aguilar
E
E
Florez
A
A
March
J R
JR
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein