High-sensitivity CRP in opiate addiction: relative and age-dependent elevations.
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been shown to be linked with immune stimulation, but is not well studied over the lifetime in opiate addiction. hs-CRP was measured by standard laboratory methods in substance use disorder (SUD) patients and non-SUD (NSUD) aged 18-48 years. Data were log transformed to improve normality. 1231 SUD were compared with 326 NSUD patients of comparable ages. hs-CRP was 7.46 ± 14.24 versus 4.75 ± 13.40 mg/l (mean ± SD) significantly higher in the SUD group (P < 0.0001), a difference which persisted after exclusion of acutely elevated hs-CRP values (P < 0.0001). In multiple regression with age, addictive status was significant both by itself (P < 0.0001) and in interaction with age (P < 0.0001). At age 40 years, the SUD group had a mean hs-CRP of 3.68 which the NSUD group did not achieve till a modelled age of 157.09 years. In an interactive multivariate regression, interactions between age, addictive status, ALT and AST were significant. These data show that hs-CRP is elevated in opiate dependence both per se, and when controlled for age. Furthermore, they suggest that hs-CRP and immune stimulation seen in opiate addiction may underlie the acceleration of age-related multi-system chronic and coronary atherosclerotic disease well described in opiate dependence.
School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, 39 Gladstone Rd., Highgate Hill, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. sreece@bigpond.net.au
Albert Stuart
AS
Reece
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein