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Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
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Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty

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Relationship between C-reactive protein levels and regional left ventricular function in asymptomatic individuals:

Boaz D Rosen1, Mary Cushman, Khurram Nasir

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|February 6, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Higher C-reactive protein (CRP) is linked to reduced heart function in men but not women. This suggests inflammation plays a role in early heart dysfunction in asymptomatic individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Cardiovascular Imaging

Background:

  • C-reactive protein (CRP) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • Subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in asymptomatic individuals remains poorly understood in relation to CRP.
  • Investigating CRP's impact on regional LV function can reveal early signs of cardiac impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and regional left ventricular (LV) function.
  • To assess this relationship in asymptomatic individuals without prior cardiovascular disease.
  • To explore potential gender differences in the CRP-LV function association.

Main Methods:

  • Tagged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to analyze regional myocardial function (peak systolic circumferential shortening strain - Ecc).
  • Data from 1,164 asymptomatic participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) trial were analyzed.
  • Multivariable linear regression models were employed to assess the relationship between log-CRP and Ecc, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

  • Higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly associated with reduced systolic function (lower absolute Ecc) in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and right coronary artery (RCA) territories in men.
  • An overall association between higher CRP and lower peak systolic Ecc was observed in men.
  • No significant association between CRP and regional LV function was found in women, though a weaker association was noted in the left circumflex artery (LCX) region (p=0.06).

Conclusions:

  • Elevated CRP levels correlate with diminished systolic myocardial function in all analyzed regions in men, but not in women, among individuals without clinical cardiovascular disease.
  • These findings highlight the role of inflammation and atherosclerosis in the development of incipient myocardial dysfunction.
  • The study underscores potential gender-specific differences in the impact of inflammation on subclinical cardiac function.
Abstract

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