title: C-reactive protein and the Framingham coronary risk score in patients newly diagnosed with intermittent claudication: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the calculated 10-year Framingham risk score (FRS) in patients newly diagnosed with intermittent claudication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum CRP levels were measured in 90 patients newly diagnosed with intermittent claudication over a 12-month period. In all, 76 patients (53 males [70%], mean age 63.3 ± 9.3) were included in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Log-transformed CRP levels significantly correlated with total FRS (r = .34, P = .002). Participants were divided into 4 groups according to log-CRP levels. Analysis of variance showed a statistically significant difference between the 4 groups in terms of mean FRS, P = .003. Post hoc comparisons indicated that group 1 was significantly different from group 4, P = .002. Analysis of covariance showed a significant difference between the 4 groups of log-CRP levels in terms of mean FRS, P = .008.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an increased 10-year risk of coronary heart disease associated with increased plasma concentration of CRP in patients newly diagnosed with intermittent claudication.
authors.affiliation: Academic Vascular Surgical Unit, Hull York Medical School & University of Hull, Hull, UK. yousef.shahin@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shahin
authors.forename: Josie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatfield
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chetter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein