OBJECTIVE. Much attention has recently been focused on the underlying role of circulating inflammatory biomarkers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein for predicting cardiovascular disease progression. We therefore set out to assess the relationship between the value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and (i) coronary artery disease severity, and (ii) left ventricular end diastolic pressure.

DESIGN. A cross-sectional study.

SETTING. The Shafa hospital in Kerman, Iran.

PATIENTS. A total of 107 consecutive patients referred for coronary angiography from January 2008 to January 2009 were prospectively studied.

INTERVENTION AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. All patients underwent coronary angiography. They all had undergone left ventricular end diastolic pressure measurement, involving a 6-Fr pigtail catheter and a properly zeroed fluid-filled pressure transducer. For each patient, the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was also determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

RESULTS. The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels could strongly predict increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure (standardised beta=1.010; P=0.008), with other patient variables being confounders, but there was no significant association between these levels and Gensini scores. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that among the study parameters, systolic hypertension (standardised beta=1.611; P=0.047) and a family history of coronary artery disease (standardised beta=1.911; P=0.005) were the main predictors of high Gensini scores in study patients.

CONCLUSION. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein level is a clinical parameter that could predict left ventricular end diastolic pressure and left ventricular dysfunction, but was not associated with the severity of coronary artery disease.

Key words: Coronary artery disease; C-reactive protein; Heart ventricles

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