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Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
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Published on: January 28, 2020

A twin study of C-Reactive Protein compared to other risk factors for coronary heart disease

Lars Retterstol1, Lars Eikvar, Kåre Berg

  • 1Department of Medical Genetics, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. l.j.retterstol@ioks.uio.no

Atherosclerosis
|August 19, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Genetic factors influence low-grade inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein (CRP). This inflammation is linked to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, particularly body mass index (BMI), suggesting heritability plays a role in CRP levels.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Cardiovascular Health
  • Inflammation and Atherosclerosis Research

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) exhibits familial clustering, with inherited risk factors.
  • Inflammation is a critical factor in atherosclerosis and CHD development.
  • Highly sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement detects low-grade inflammation and is linked to CHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic contribution to low-grade inflammation by measuring CRP levels.
  • To explore the relationship between CRP and other established CHD risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • Measured serum CRP levels in healthy monozygotic twins.
  • Calculated within-pair correlation coefficients for CRP.
  • Utilized linear multiple regression analysis to assess associations between CRP and risk factors including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fibrinogen, HDL cholesterol, homocysteine, and triglycerides.

Main Results:

  • A within-pair correlation coefficient of 0.40 for CRP indicated a significant genetic contribution to CRP level control.
  • CRP showed significant correlations with multiple CHD risk factors: BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma fibrinogen, serum HDL cholesterol, plasma homocysteine, and serum triglycerides.
  • Body mass index (BMI) was the most significant predictor of CRP in the regression analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Serum CRP levels, reflecting low-grade inflammation, demonstrate moderate heritability.
  • The significant association between CRP and BMI, a highly heritable trait, may partly explain the heritability of serum CRP.

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