title: C-reactive protein/interleukin-6 ratio as marker of the size of the uncomplicated thoracic aortic aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as markers in the prognosis of asymptomatic thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) patients has not been well established. As such, we evaluated a group of patients for a possible association between serum CRP and IL-6 and aneurysm dimension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum CRP and IL-6 were determined and aneurysmal size was measured in 26 patients with TAA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (SD) CRP and IL-6 were 0.58 (1.07) and 7.47 (17.78) pg/ml, respectively. Serum CRP, IL-6 and the ratio CRP/IL-6 correlated with the descending aortic aneurysmal dimension (r = 0.426, r = 0.743 and r = 0.328, respectively). A significant correlation was also found between values of the ratio above 0.8 and aneurysmal dimension (both ascending and descending aneurysms) (r = 0.785). Additionally, a significant association between smoking, age group above 69 years and dyslipidemia and aneurysm dimension was established (P = 0.002, P = 0.061 and P = 0.070, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report shows that serum CRP, IL-6 levels and the ratio CRP/IL-6 are associated with descending aortic aneurysmal dimensions. Also values of the ratio CRP/IL-6 above 0.8 are associated with aneurysmal dimensions for both ascending and descending aortic aneurysms. It is still early to establish the clinical significance of those findings, and further studies with larger groups of patients with longer follow-up are required in order to truly assess the usefulness of the serum CRP and IL-6 as markers in relation to the progression of the disease.
authors: Department of Cardiac Surgery,  AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki,  Greece.
authors: Panagiotis
authors: P
authors: Artemiou
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Charokopos
authors: Efthymia
authors: E
authors: Rouska
authors: Frantisek
authors: F
authors: Sabol
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Chrysogonidis
authors: Vasiliki
authors: V
authors: Tsavdaridou
authors: Giannis
authors: G
authors: Paschalidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein