title: Evaluation of lasting high levels of CRP among the patients with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: "Low-grade" systemic inflammation is common findings in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). When we assessed 256 MetS patients, we found eight patients who presented high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) which are between 40 and 15 mg/L for more than 3 years. They have not satisfied any criteria of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and the area of visceral fat estimated by computed tomography was more than 200 cm(2). All the other MetS patients of visceral fat over 200 cm(2) presented low levels of CRP which are less than 10 mg/L. Insulin resistance and ultrasound study of carotid plaques showed no differences between high and low levels of CRP patients. There are a series of MetS patients who show high levels of CRP without clinical symptoms of inflammatory diseases. High levels of CRP merely cannot be explained by visceral fat area, insulin resistance, or carotid plaques.
authors.affiliation: Shiraishi Hospital, Matsumoto-cho 1-5-9, Imabari City, Ehime 794-0041, Japan. ikyok3@dokidoki.ne.jp
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Saiki
authors.forename: Makihiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuhara
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Sanshirou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uda
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008727:Methotrexate