Relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level and angiographical characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis

• Published in: Chinese medical journal 2006-02, Vol.119 (4), p.319-323, Article 319
• Main Authors: Jia, En-zhi, Yang, Zhi-jian, Yuan, Biao, Zang, Xiao-ling, Wang, Rong-hu, Zhu, Tie-bing, Wang, Lian-sheng, Chen, Bo, Cao, Ke-jiang, Huang, Jun, Ma, Wen-zhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; C-反应蛋白; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease - blood; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Regression Analysis; Severity of Illness Index; 临床表现; 冠状动脉硬化; 病理机制
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.1097/00029330-200602020-00009

A role for inflammation has become well established over the past decade or more in theories describing the atherosclerotic disease process. From a pathological viewpoint, all stages, ie, initiation, growth, and complication of the atherosclerotic plaque, might be considered to be an inflammatory response to injury. Several prospective studies recently showed that plasma high sensitivity C-reactive protein （hsCRP） levels, which are one of the markers of systemic inflammation, are a powerful predictor of future myocardial infarction and cardiac death among apparently healthy individuals. However, the association between the plasma hsCRP levels and the extent of coronary stenosis in subjects remains controversial. Some studies previously demonstrated such associations, whereas other could not found. Gensini＇s score assigns a severity score for a stenosed vessel depending on the degree of luminal narrowing and the importance of its location.