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Elevated C-reactive protein is associated with an increased intima to media thickness of the common carotid artery

Kerstin Winbeck1, Christian Kukla, Holger Poppert

  • 1Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, Germany. Winbeck@neuro.med.tu-muenchen.de

Cerebrovascular Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 26, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is linked to increased intima-media thickness (IMT) in neurological patients. This suggests CRP may be a marker for subclinical atherosclerosis in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation.
  • Intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery is an indicator of atherosclerosis.
  • The relationship between CRP and IMT in neurological inpatients requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and intima-media thickness (IMT) in neurological inpatients.
  • To identify factors associated with increased IMT in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 411 neurological inpatients.
  • Serum CRP levels measured within 12 hours of admission.
  • Intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery assessed.
  • Multivariate linear regression analysis performed.

Main Results:

  • Patients with elevated CRP showed significantly higher IMT compared to those with normal CRP levels.
  • Elevated CRP, older age, smoking history, higher BMI, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic stroke were independently associated with increased IMT.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated serum CRP is associated with increased carotid artery IMT in neurological inpatients.
  • CRP may serve as a biomarker for subclinical atherosclerosis in this population.
  • These findings highlight the importance of managing inflammatory markers in neurological patients to reduce cardiovascular risk.

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