title: [C-reactive protein is asociated to carotid intima media thickness in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia].
abstract: Studies have shown that high concentrations of total cholesterol at the expense of LDL cholesterol and markers of inflammation are linked with subclinical atherosclerosis. This study was aimed to associate the carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia. The investigation was descriptive, transverse and included 100 patients divided into a control group (normocholesterolemic) and a study group (hypercholesterolemic). There were no significant differences in age and gender distribution among the groups. The body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol and its fractions, IMT and hs-CRP were significantly elevated in the study group. Only in the hypercholesterolemic group, the IMT was significantly associated with hsCRP. In the study group, the mean IMT rose by quartiles of hs-CRP, reaching its highest level in the fourth quartile. The multiple linear regression analysis identified LDL cholesterol and hs-CRP as predictors of IMT only in the study group. The findings support other data suggesting that not only the LDL cholesterol but also hs-CRP could be an important factor for early atherosclerotic changes in the carotid artery of patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Médicas y Biotecnológicas de la Universidad de Carabobo, Vanezuela, Venezuela. mespinoza@uc.edu.ve
authors.forename: Milagros
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Nelina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Ulises
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Hermaliz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Urbaneja
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Orozco
authors.forename: Norkis
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Smirna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castrillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein