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C-Reactive protein concentrations and angiographic characteristics of coronary lesions
D Katritsis1, S Korovesis, E Giazitzoglou
1Department of Cardiology, Athens Euroclinic, Athens 11521, Greece.
Insights
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels predict unstable angina and high-risk coronary lesion features in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study links inflammation marker CRP to specific angiographic indicators of CAD severity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomarkers
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- C-Reactive protein (CRP) is a recognized predictor of clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Inflammation is a key process implicated in the development and progression of CAD.
- Evaluating novel methods for high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) measurement is crucial for accurate risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hs-CRP concentrations and specific high-risk angiographic features in coronary lesions.
- To determine if hs-CRP levels correlate with clinical presentation, such as unstable angina.
- To assess the utility of a new automated particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric method for hs-CRP in CAD evaluation.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 103 consecutive patients with suspected CAD undergoing cardiac catheterization.
- Preprocedural hs-CRP concentrations were measured using a new automated particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay.
- Associations were analyzed between hs-CRP levels, clinical presentation (unstable angina), and angiographic characteristics of coronary lesions.
Main Results:
- Increased hs-CRP was an independent predictor of unstable angina (OR, 2.93 per 10-fold increase; P = 0.01).
- Macroscopic thrombus was also significantly associated with unstable angina (OR, 7.08; P = 0.02).
- Elevated hs-CRP was the strongest predictor of high-risk lesion morphologies, including macroscopic thrombus or eccentric/irregular discrete morphology (OR, 2.04 per 10-fold increase; P = 0.04), independent of unstable angina status.
Conclusions:
- In patients with suspected CAD, elevated hs-CRP levels are strongly linked to unstable angina.
- Increased hs-CRP is significantly associated with specific high-risk features identified in culprit coronary lesions during angiography.
- These findings highlight the importance of hs-CRP as a biomarker for identifying complex coronary lesions and adverse clinical events in CAD.
Background:
C-Reactive protein (CRP) is a strong predictor of clinical outcome in coronary artery disease (CAD), and inflammation has been implicated in the process. We aimed to evaluate whether CRP concentrations measured with a new, automated particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric method for high-sensitivity CRP may be related to specific high-risk angiographic features of coronary lesions.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional study, we examined 103 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for suspected CAD. We assessed the association of preprocedural CRP concentrations with clinical presentation (unstable angina) and angiographic features of coronary lesions.
Results:
Twenty patients had unstable angina. Independent predictors of unstable angina included increased CRP [odds ratio (OR), 2.93 per 10-fold increase in CRP; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.28-6.69; P = 0.01] and the presence of macroscopic thrombus (OR, 7.08; 95% CI, 1.33-37.8; P = 0.02). Thirty-two culprit lesions had macroscopic thrombus or eccentric/irregular discrete morphology without total occlusion. Increased CRP was the strongest predictor of such features (OR, 2.04 per 10-fold increase in CRP; 95% CI, 1.03-4.04; P = 0.04), and the effect was independent of the presence of unstable angina.
Conclusions:
Among patients with suspected CAD undergoing coronary angiography, increased CRP is strongly associated with unstable angina and with specific high-risk features of the culprit coronary lesions.
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