Association of Coronary Heart Disease and CRP - as a Noble Marker of Inflammation - A Case Control Study.

Background: Attention has increasingly turned towards the role of factors, such as inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis and CHD. C-reactive protein (CRP) has emerged as one of the most important novel inflammatory marker. Subsequent risk modification and treatment strategies of CHD keeping on pointer towards inflammation may be the appropriate approach.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the association of CHD with CRP, a sensitive marker of inflammation.

Material And Methods: This is a case control study amongst 300 subjects (150 cases and 150 controls), conducted in the Department of Cardiology at Sri Aurobindo Medical College and P.G Institute, Indore, M.P. Subjects with definite diagnosis of CHD established by coronary angiography (CAG) was taken as cases, subjects matched with age, gender with no conventional risk factor and past history of CHD from the relatives and accompanying persons were enlisted as controls.

Results: Estimation of CRP reveals ≥0.6 mg/dl in 88(58.7%) subjects out of 150, compared to 26 (17.3%) control subjects out of 150 which is statistically significant (p value<0.0001) (OR=6.7).

Conclusion: CRP as a noble marker of inflammation was significantly higher in subjects of CHD and thus supported adequately the hypothesis of an activation of inflammatory cascade for coronary atheromatous plaque formation and causation of CHD.