title: C-reactive protein as a predictor of hypertension in the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study (CRISPS) cohort.
abstract: Inflammation contributes to the development of hypertension. Whether C-reactive protein (CRP) has a causal role in hypertension remains unknown. We studied the relationship between circulating CRP levels and hypertension. The role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CRP gene as determinants of its plasma levels and the propensity to develop hypertension was investigated. Plasma CRP and genotypes of nine SNPs were determined in 1925 unrelated subjects from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study-2 (CRISPS-2) in 2000-2004. Among 1378 subjects normotensive in CRISPS-2, 1115 subjects had been followed up in CRISPS-3 after a median interval of 5.3 years, 236 of whom had developed hypertension. Plasma CRP was independently associated with the development of hypertension in CRISPS-3 (odds ratio per quartile=1.26, P=0.010). Six SNPs were associated with plasma CRP (all P<0.001). However, none of the SNPs was significantly associated with blood pressure, prevalent or incident hypertension, or change in blood pressure. In conclusion, plasma CRP predicts the development of hypertension. Genetic variants in the CRP gene are significantly associated with plasma CRP but not with hypertension. The future risk of hypertension is therefore more related to plasma CRP than SNPs in the CRP gene in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. mycheung@hku.hk
authors.forename: B M Y
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: A W K
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Tso
authors.forename: R Y H
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cherny
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sham
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: K S L
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein