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The predictive role of C-reactive protein in patients with hypertension and subclinical atherosclerosis

M Rizzo1, E Corrado, G Coppola

  • 1Department of Clinical Medicine and Emerging Diseases, University Hospital P. Giaccone of the University of Palermo, Italy.

Internal Medicine Journal
|March 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid lesions predict cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. These findings highlight CRP

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • European guidelines suggest C-reactive protein (CRP) for cardiovascular risk in hypertension.
  • Limited data exist on CRP's role in patients with carotid lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the predictive value of high-sensitivity CRP and carotid lesions for cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients.

Main Methods:

  • 472 patients (236 hypertensive, 236 non-hypertensive), matched for age and sex, were studied.
  • Assessed intima-media thickness, traditional risk factors, and high-sensitivity CRP levels.
  • Followed patients for 5 years to record cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive patients experienced more events (25%) than non-hypertensives (17%).
  • In hypertensive patients, baseline carotid lesions and elevated CRP levels predicted clinical events.
  • A significant relationship was found between clinical events and CRP levels in hypertensive individuals.

Conclusions:

  • High-sensitivity CRP is useful for predicting atherosclerosis and clinical events.
  • Further studies are needed to evaluate the therapeutic implications of these findings.
Abstract

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