Relationship between high sensitivity C-reactive protein and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease

Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Cytokines play a potential role in atherosclerosis pathogenesis and progression. We investigated the association between high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and severity of CAD. Methods CAD patients were stratified according to hsCRP cut-off value into high levels hsCRP group (≥ 8.4 mg/L) and low levels hsCRP group (Results The mean age was 60.3 ± 11.0 years. The level of hsCRP was increased and ranged from 0.2 to 1020.0 mg/L. Biochemical risk factors and severity of CAD didn't show significant differences between the two groups. In multivariate linear analysis, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and serum amyloid A (SAA) were predictors of hsCRP. As shown in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis performed in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and compared to myonecrosis biomarkers, hsCRP (area under the curve (AUC): 0.905; 95%CI: 0.844-0.966; P Conclusions HsCRP levels were not associated with the severity of CAD but could be useful in the evaluation of myocardial necrosis in patients with STEMI.