title: C-reactive protein levels are elevated in asthma and asthma-like conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asthma is a chronic disease involving airway hyperresponsiveness. It was proposed that asthma/chronic shortness of breath elicit chronic systemic inflammation even in the absence of episodic events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volunteers completed questionnaires relevant to asthma and/or dyspnea and consented to C-reactive protein (CRP) quantitation. Subject groups were: control (no reported dyspnea) and asthma/shortness of breath [dyspnea] group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were performed in the Saint Louis metropolitan area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants consisted of volunteers aged 18-57. Inclusion criteria were good health, not pregnant, weight > 110 pounds and absence of antiinflammatory medicine use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum CRP ranged from undetectable to 22,013 ng/mL. Mean results for asthmatic/dyspnea (n = 22) and control (n = 27) groups were 4,203 +/- 1,323 ng/mL and 1,741 +/- 467 ng/mL (p < 0.05) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with asthma/asthma-like symptoms have chronic low levels of systemic inflammation despite the absence of episodic pulmonary events. Understanding chronic systemic inflammation relevant to asthma/asthma-like conditions may lead to design of targeted therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pellizzaro
authors.forename: Rita M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Heuertz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein