High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is not independently associated with peripheral subclinical atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels are independently associated with subclinical peripheral atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Clinical variables, cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, 10-year CV risk, the ankle-brachial Index (ABI), and the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were determined in a sample of consecutive subjects free from previous CV disease, admitted for a first visit at a lipid clinic.


RESULTS
In the overall sample (320 subjects, mean age 63 years, 35.8% men), hs-CRP levels were associated with major CV risk factors, 10-year CV risk, lower ABI, and higher cIMT values. In a logistic model, after adjustment for significant covariates, the associations of hs-CRP levels with ABI and cIMT were no longer statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Among asymptomatic, moderate- to-high CV risk subjects, hs-CRP levels were associated with severity of peripheral atherosclerosis, but these associations were not independent of traditional CV risk factors, suggesting a limited predictive role of hs-CRP for subclinical atherosclerosis.
Bo
Mario
M
SCDU Geriatria, Dipartimento di Discipline Medico Chirurgiche, Azienda Sanitaria San Giovanni Battista, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, Italy. mario.bo@unito.it
Corsinovi
Laura
L
Brescianini
Alessia
A
Sona
Alessandro
A
Astengo
Marco
M
Dumitrache
Raluca
R
Ferrio
Maria Federica
MF
Pricop
Larisa
L
Fonte
Gianfranco
G
D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000098:blood supply; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein