title: C-reactive protein and retinal microvascular caliber in a multiethnic asian population.
abstract: Retinal microvascular caliber is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease. The authors examined the relation between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and retinal microvascular caliber in a multiethnic Asian population (n = 3,583) of Chinese, Malays, and Indians aged 24-95 years residing in Singapore (2003-2007). Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured and summarized as central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE), respectively. Persons with higher levels of hsCRP had wider CRVE (P(trend) < 0.001). In subgroup analysis stratified for different cardiovascular disease risk factors, the association between hsCRP and CRVE was seen in persons without diabetes (P(trend) < 0.001) but was absent in persons with diabetes (P(trend) = 0.200; P(interaction) = 0.004). No significant interaction between race/ethnicity and hsCRP in relation to retinal vascular caliber was observed. These data suggest that retinal venular caliber is associated with higher levels of hsCRP in Asians, which is consistent with studies in white Caucasian populations, further supporting the concept that retinal venular caliber may be a marker for low-grade systemic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yim-Lui Cheung
authors.forename: Tien Yin
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ecosse L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lamoureux
authors.forename: Charumathi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sabanayagam
authors.forename: Jialiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: E Shyong
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Tai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein