Highly sensitive C-reactive protein concentration and angiographic characteristics of coronary lesion.

BACKGROUND The role of inflammation in all stages of atherosclerotic disease is increasingly recognized especially in last few years. The chronic inflammatory process can develop to an acute clinical event by the induction of plaque rupture and therefore cause acute coronary syndrome. Creactive protein is a strong predictor of clinical outcome in coronary artery disease and inflammation has been implicated in the process. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between pre-procedural highly sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) and angiographic features in patients with acute coronary syndrome. METHODS In a cross-sectional study, we examined 100 patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome and assessed the relationship between preprocedural hs-CRP concentration and coronary angiographic lesions. RESULTS One hundred patients with acute coronary syndrome were assessed. Some of the results were as follows: mean age 59.26 +/- 11.04, 64% male and 36% female. 34% of patients had unstable angina, 43% had Non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 23% had ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The mean value of hs-CRP was 4.26 +/- 1.42 mg/dl with highest values in patients eccentric/irregular lesion and patients having macroscopic thrombus (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Among patients with acute coronary syndrome increased levels of hs-CRP correlates with specific high risk coronary artery lesions.