Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: In a community-based sample free of advanced atherosclerotic disease (n = 1018; mean age +/- SD, 54.1 +/- 12.0 years; 49.7% women) we examined the relationship between carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT), conventional vascular risk factors (that is, smoking, obesity, elevated blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia) and serum CRP. RESULTS: We found an association between increasing IMT values with increasing CRP values for all sites within the carotid system (for example, common carotid artery [CCA-] IMT, beta = 0.174, P < 0.001). The relationship was weakened after accounting for the above-mentioned conventional risk factors (linear regression), particularly body mass index, but remained significant (for example, mean CCA-IMT beta = 0.02, P = 0.042). Including fibrinogen in the regression made the relationship no longer significant (mean CCA-IMT beta = 0.01, P = 0.277). CONCLUSION: It is unlikely that CRP per se is a major independent cause of early arteriosclerosis. Elevations of CRP, or less specifically chronic inflammation, may mediate the effect of certain conventional risk factors on promoting atherogenesis, especially obesity.
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Authors | Matthias Sitzer, Hugh S Markus, Michael A Mendall, Rüdiger Liehr, Uwe Knorr, Helmuth Steinmetz |
Journal | Journal of cardiovascular risk
(J Cardiovasc Risk)
Vol. 9
Issue 2
Pg. 97-103
(Apr 2002)
ISSN: 1350-6277 [Print] England |
PMID | 12006917
(Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Cholesterol, LDL
- Glycated Hemoglobin A
- Fibrinogen
- C-Reactive Protein
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Topics |
- Adult
- Age Factors
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Blood Pressure
(physiology)
- Body Mass Index
- C-Reactive Protein
(metabolism)
- Carotid Artery, Common
(chemistry, diagnostic imaging, metabolism)
- Cholesterol, LDL
(blood)
- Community Health Services
- Female
- Fibrinogen
(metabolism)
- Germany
(epidemiology)
- Glycated Hemoglobin
(metabolism)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Reference Values
- Risk Factors
- Sex Factors
- Statistics as Topic
- Tunica Intima
(chemistry, diagnostic imaging, metabolism)
- Ultrasonography
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