title: Serum levels of high sensitive C reactive protein in healthy adults from southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the emergence of more sensitive assay techniques, it has been shown that C reactive protein (CRP) is present at low levels in the serum of all the clinically healthy individuals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the interval values of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) in healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum hs-CRP level was evaluated in 176 healthy blood donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum hs-CRP level ranged from <0.175 to 48.7 mg/l (median 1.2 mg/l); 127 (72.2%) individuals exhibited values ≥0.175 and <3.0 mg/l and 31 (17.6%) showed values >3.0 and ≤10.0 mg. Higher hs-CRP level was observed among the female than male (P = 0.0001), and among the older than the younger individuals (P = 0.0180). Individuals with body mass index ≥25.0 kg/m(2) exhibited higher hs-CRP level than those with normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m(2) ; P < 0.0005). When the participants were stratified into gender and low (≤24.9 kg/m(2) ) and high (≥24.9 kg/m(2) ) body mass index (BMI) groups, the gender difference in hs-CRP levels remained (female with low BMI vs. male with low BMI, P = 0.0221; female with high BMI vs. male with high BMI, P = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender, age, and BMI influence serum hs-CRP level in healthy individuals and these variables should be considered for the interpretation of hs-CRP values. The results reinforce the importance in evaluating whether these differences in hs-CRP levels could contribute to alter the cardiovascular risk criteria and clinical outcomes, and whether hs-CRP thresholds for cardiovascular risk assessment should be adjusted for different gender and body mass index groups.
authors: Postgraduate Program, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Francieli
authors: F
authors: Delongui
authors: Ana Paula
authors: AP
authors: Kallaur
authors: Sayonara Rangel
authors: SR
authors: Oliveira
authors: Ana Maria
authors: AM
authors: Bonametti
authors: Cintia Magalhães Carvalho
authors: CM
authors: Grion
authors: Helena Kaminami
authors: HK
authors: Morimoto
authors: Andrea Name Colado
authors: AN
authors: Simão
authors: Giuliana Gisele
authors: GG
authors: Magalhães
authors: Edna Maria Vissoci
authors: EM
authors: Reiche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein