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Interactions among gender, age, hypertension and C-reactive protein in coronary vasospasm

Ming-Yow Hung1, Kuang-Hung Hsu, Ming-Jui Hung

  • 1Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

European Journal of Clinical Investigation
|August 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and their association with coronary vasospasm (CVsp) differ significantly between men and women. Hypertension appears to mitigate CVsp risk, suggesting distinct disease pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Inflammation Research
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Coronary vasospasm (CVsp) is increasingly recognized as an inflammatory condition.
  • Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels are a marker of inflammation and have been linked to CVsp.
  • Understanding the interplay of demographic and clinical factors with hs-CRP in CVsp is crucial for risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differential associations of hs-CRP with CVsp in relation to gender, age, and hypertension.
  • To explore the potential threshold and non-threshold models of hs-CRP in CVsp development.
  • To elucidate the unique pathogenetic mechanisms of CVsp compared to coronary atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 722 Taiwanese patients with or without CVsp over 8 years.
  • Exclusion of patients with obstructive coronary artery disease.
  • hs-CRP levels analyzed in 375 patients to assess interactions with gender, age, smoking, and hypertension.

Main Results:

  • In women, only the highest hs-CRP tertile (>3 mg/L) was independently associated with CVsp.
  • In men, age >58 years and the highest hs-CRP tertile were independently associated with CVsp.
  • Hypertension reduced the odds of CVsp in both genders, particularly in those with the highest hs-CRP levels.

Conclusions:

  • The relationship between hs-CRP and CVsp is gender-dependent, with distinct threshold (women) and non-threshold (men) models observed.
  • Age and lifestyle factors like smoking contribute to CVsp development in men.
  • The mitigating effect of hypertension suggests CVsp pathogenesis differs from coronary atherosclerosis.
Abstract

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