C-reactive protein gene haplotypes and risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study
Isabella Kardys1, Moniek P M de Maat, André G Uitterlinden
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus MC, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
C-reactive protein (CRP) gene variations influence CRP levels but do not appear to significantly impact coronary heart disease risk. This study found no strong genetic link between CRP haplotypes and heart disease occurrence.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- It remains unclear if CRP is merely a marker of CVD severity or actively participates in its pathogenesis.
- Understanding the genetic influence on CRP is crucial for elucidating its role in CVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein gene haplotypes and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).
- To determine if common variations in the CRP gene influence the occurrence of CHD.
Main Methods:
- The Rotterdam Study, a prospective population-based cohort of individuals aged 55 and older.
- Analysis of four common C-reactive protein haplotypes and their association with CHD risk.
- Assessment of C-reactive protein serum levels across different haplotypes.
Main Results:
- Elevated C-reactive protein levels were associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (HR 1.9).
- Significant differences in C-reactive protein serum levels were observed among the four C-reactive protein haplotypes.
- However, C-reactive protein haplotypes were not found to be associated with coronary heart disease.
Conclusions:
- C-reactive protein gene haplotypes influence steady-state C-reactive protein serum levels.
- Despite CRP being a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease, common variations in the CRP gene do not appear to have a substantial effect on the incidence of coronary heart disease.
Aims:
C-reactive protein is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease. However, whether C-reactive protein is a marker of severity of cardiovascular disease or actually is involved in its pathogenesis remains unknown. We investigated the relation between C-reactive protein haplotypes, representing the comprehensive variation of the C-reactive protein gene, and coronary heart disease.
Methods And Results:
The Rotterdam Study is a prospective population-based study among men and women aged 55 years and older. C-reactive protein was associated with risk of coronary heart disease, with a multivariable adjusted hazard ratio of 1.9 (95% CI 1.5-2.4) for the highest vs. the lowest quartile. Four C-reactive protein haplotypes were present with overall frequencies of 32.8, 31.7, 29.5, and 5.9%. C-reactive protein serum levels were significantly different according to C-reactive protein haplotypes. C-reactive protein haplotypes were not associated with coronary heart disease.
Conclusion:
Steady-state C-reactive protein serum level is influenced by C-reactive protein gene haplotypes. Although elevated C-reactive protein level has lately been found to be a consistent and relatively strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease, our study does not support that the common variation in the C-reactive protein gene has a large effect on the occurrence of coronary heart disease.
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