Dong Hyun Yang MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Joon-Won Kang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tae-Hwan Lim MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hong-Kyu Kim MD,PHD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To determine whether C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with coronary atherosclerotic plaque on CT angiography.

We measured CRP in 1598 subjects (mean age 55.3 ± 9.0; range 26-86; 1111 male) who underwent self-referred coronary CT angiography for general health checkup. Presence of coronary plaque, plaque types (calcified, mixed, noncalcified), and degree of stenosis (score 1, stenosis <30%; score 2, stenosis 30% - 49.9%; score 3, stenosis 50% - 69.9%; score 4, stenosis ≥ 70%) were evaluated in 16 coronary segments. To obtain segment-stenosis score in each type of the plaque, we multiplied the number of stenosis segment by the degree of stenosis. Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and the presence of coronary plaque were compared across CRP quartiles. Association between CRP quartiles and the segment-stenosis score were analyzed. We evaluated whether CRP levels are independently associated with the presence of coronary plaque after adjustment for traditional CV risk factors by using binary logistic regression analysis. 

CRP quartiles (CRP values: 25 percentile 0.40 mg/l, 50 percentile 0.70 mg/l, 75 percentile 0.14 mg/l) were associated with CV risk factors and presence of coronary plaque (all plaques, p < 0.001; noncalcified plaque, p=0.002; mixed plaque, p=0.048). The segment-stenosis scores were different in each CRP quartile (p=0.001) in all plaque types and showed an increasing tendency. After adjustment for CV risk factors, CRP levels were not independently associated with the presence of coronary plaque (all plaques, p=0.060; noncalcified plaque, p=0.050; mixed plaque, p=0.066). 

Coronary atherosclerotic plaque is increased in subjects with higher CRP levels. The higher levels of CRP are not independently associated with the presence of coronary plaque.  

Blood CRP levels are not independently associated with the presence of coronary plaque in general population. 

Yang, D, Kang, J, Lim, T, Kim, H, Association between C-reactive Protein and Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque on CT Angiography.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11014295.html