[High sensitivity C reactive protein and lipid status as a risk factors for coronary disease]

It is generally accepted that inflammation has an important role, not just in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but also in initiation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A number of studies showed, that a high concentration of high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease in a healthy person. HsCRP can predict new cardiovascular episodes, including death, in patients with unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Ability of oxidated low densiti lipoprotein (oxLDL) to induce accumulation of holesterol in macrofage was his first described proaterogenic characteristic and it help in hipotesis that oxidation of low densiti lipoprotein (LDL) can be important step in proces of aterogenesis. Framingham study showed that ther is significant corelation between level of total holesterol in blood and coronary artery disease (CAD). Evaluation of bouth hsCRP and LDL levels is superior in detection of CAD. Aims of this study were to determine values of hsCRP in patients with coronary arteries disease verified by coronary angiography (stenosis>70%), and to check if values of hsCRP higher than 3.0 mg/ dL are better predictor of coronary artery disease then lipid status. A prospective study was conducted on 60 patients, who were divided in two groups in compliance with significance of coronary artery disease. All patients have earlier diagnosis of ACS, and from this study excluded patients with acute infection, chronic, systemic or malignant disease. This research shows that patients with significant coronary artery disease, verified by coronary angiography, have higher values of hsCRP than those without disease that have values within the range of the reference values (0-3 mg/dL). Patients with coronary artery disease verified by coronary angiography have values of hsCRP that put them in a group of patients with intermediate to high risk of a future acute cardiovascular event, by classification of American Heart Association. In group of patients with coronary disease there is significant elevation of LDL and total cholesterol. With elevation of HDL values there is reduction in hsCRP values in patients with no significant coronary artery disease.