Elevated Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels and Advanced Atherosclerosis in Youth

• Published in: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 1237 - 1243
• Main Authors: Zieske, Arthur W, Tracy, Russell P, McMahan, C Alex, Herderick, Edward E, Homma, Satoki, Malcom, Gray T, McGill, Henry C, Strong, Jack P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Heart Association, Inc 01-06-2005; Hagerstown, MD Lippincott
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Age Distribution; Aorta, Abdominal - pathology; Associated diseases and complications; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Atherosclerosis - blood; Atherosclerosis - epidemiology; Atherosclerosis - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Blood and lymphatic vessels; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular system; Coronary Disease - blood; Coronary Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Disease - pathology; Coronary Vessels - pathology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques of hemodynamics; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Smoking - epidemiology; Vascular disease; risk factors; C-reactive protein; Atherosclerosis; Risk factor; Cardiovascular disease; C reactive protein; Coronary heart disease; youth
• ISSN: 1079-5642; 1524-4636
• DOI: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000164625.93129.64

OBJECTIVE—To determine the associations among serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, age, sex, risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), and atherosclerosis in young people.
METHODS AND RESULTS—In 1244 subjects 15 to 34 years of age, we measured gross atherosclerotic lesions in the right coronary artery (RCA) and abdominal aorta (AA) and American Heart Association (AHA) lesion grade in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery; serum CRP, lipoprotein cholesterol, and thiocyanate (for smoking) concentrations; intimal thickness of renal arteries (for hypertension); glycohemoglobin (for hyperglycemia); and body mass index (for obesity). Serum CRP levels increased with age, were higher in women than in men, and were positively related to obesity and hyperglycemia. Serum CRP ≥10 mg/L was associated with more extensive gross raised lesions in the RCA after age 25 and in the AA after age 30. Serum CRP ≥3 was associated with a greater prevalence of AHA grade 5 lesions in the proximal LAD coronary artery after age 25. The associations of CRP with lesions were independent of the traditional CHD risk factors.
CONCLUSION—Serum CRP level is independently associated with advanced atherosclerosis in young persons.