Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein is not increased in patients with IgA nephropathy.
OBJECTIVE
The development of renal injury in glomerulonephritis (GN) has been related to systemic inflammatory mediators. We investigated whether serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker reflecting the inflammatory pathogenesis of primary GN.


METHODS
We compared serum hs-CRP levels in 192 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 43 patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), and 25 patients with minimal change disease (MCD) undergoing kidney biopsy and 638 matched controls.


RESULTS
There were no differences in hs-CRP levels between controls (median 0.08 mg/dl; range 0.03-1.87 mg/dl) and patients with IgAN (0.08 mg/dl; 0.03-3.13 mg/dl), MN (0.07 mg/dl; 0.03-0.99 mg/dl) or MCD (0.08 mg/dl; 0.03-1.75 mg/dl). In patients with IgAN, hs-CRP levels did not differ according to Haas' pathological subclasses or subsequent renal outcomes. In the IgAN group, hs-CRP showed positive correlations with IgA, uric acid, systolic blood pressure, BMI and age. Hs-CRP level was significantly higher in male than in female IgAN patients. Serum IgA concentration was the strongest independent correlate with hs-CRP levels, and gender and BMI were also independently associated with hs-CRP. There were no correlations between hs-CRP and markers of disease activity.


CONCLUSIONS
It is likely that hs-CRP does not closely reflect inflammatory pathogenesis in patients with IgAN, MN and MCD.
Baek
Joo Eun
JE
Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea.
Chang
Jai Won
JW
Min
Won Ki
WK
Cho
Yong Mee
YM
Park
Jung Sik
JS
Kim
Soon Bae
SB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein