Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Assessing Endothelial Vasodilator Function with the Endo-PAT 2000
Published on: October 15, 2010
Direct association between C-reactive protein serum levels and endothelial dysfunction in patients with claudication
J De Haro1, F Acin, A Lopez-Quintana
1Angiology and Vascular Surgery Service, Hospital Universitario Getafe, Madrid, Spain. deharojoaquin@yahoo.es
Objectives:
To evaluate the relationship between C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP), a serum marker of inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction in patients with intermittent claudication.
Design, Patients And Methods:
Cross-sectional study with stratified sampling on dependent variables of age, genre, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking status and ankle-brachial index (ABI) to select 156 patients from a target population of 4,100 patients with claudication. We assessed the flow-mediated arterial dilation (FMAD) as a reporter of endothelial function and plasma levels of hsCRP and fibrinogen.
Results:
Patients with a FMAD<3% (range for the lowest 5% of healthy subjects) had increased levels of plasma hsCRP (6.3 vs 2.3mg/L; p<0.05) and fibrinogen (351vs 302mg/L; p<0.05) in comparison to those with FMAD>3%. There was a negative correlation between hsCRP and FMAD(r=-0.465; p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Impaired endothelial dysfunction is association with increased plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers, and both may have a role in the aetiopathogenesis of peripheral arterial disease.
Related Concept Videos
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction

