Highly sensitive C reactive protein in patients with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease

Context: Although there are several studies reported in the western literature regarding the association of C reactive protein (CRP) level with components of metabolic syndrome, data in the Indian population were lacking. As there will be a considerable difference in the profile of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), studies regarding the correlation of CRP level with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in the Indian population are required. Objective: To correlate the highly sensitive CRP (hsCRP) level to individual components of metabolic syndrome and coronary vascular disease. Materials and Methods : Forty patients who were diagnosed clinically with metabolic syndrome were included in the study. Detailed history with regard to diabetes mellitus, hypertension and other CVD was collected from each patient. All the patients underwent complete physical examination, including ECG. Height, weight, fasting blood glucose and lipid levels were measured in all the patients. CVD was assessed with the following: new-onset angina, fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke, transient ischemic attack, heart failure or intermittent claudication. Results: The mean hsCRP level was higher in patients with CVD compared with those without CVD. The CRP level correlation with CVD showed a statistically significant correlation. hsCRP level was very high in eight hypertensive patients, whereas it was very high in five normotensives. But, statistical analysis has not shown any significant correlation between hypertension and hsCRP level. Similarly, although a higher hsCRP level was seen in diabeteics, statistical analysis failed to show a significant correlation between diabetes and the hsCRP level. Analyses of hsCRP correlation with body mass index, fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein did not show a significant correlation with the hsCRP level. Conclusions: Increased hsCRP levels are associated with an increase in the incidence of CVDs. Higher values of hsCRP were observed in patients with hypertension and diabetes. No correlation was seen between hsCRP and components of the metabolic syndrome.