Relationship between character of atherosclerotic plaque in carotid artery and serum C reactive protein

Objective To investigate the relationship of character of atherosclerotic plaque in carotid artery and serum CRP level. Methods The atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries were confirmed by multislice CT angiography(MSCTA),in which serum CRP level were detected in 28 patients with cerebral thrombosis,24 patients with lacunar infarction and 19 patients with TIA in internal carotid artery system in order to analysis the relationship between character of plaque and serum CRP level. Results (1)Mixed plaque and soft plaque were mainly found in cerebral thrombosis and TIA groups, while rigidity plaque was mostly found in lacunar infarction group, there were significance difference in plaques distribution among three groups(all P0.05). (2)Serum CRP level in three groups (4.022±1.531)mg/L in cerebral thrombosis group,(3.781±1.876)mg/L in lacunar infarction group, (3.920±2.155)mg/L in TIA group respectively,there were no significant difference among three groups (P0.05).(3) CRP level in different groups was (4.546±2.720)mg/L in soft plaque group, (3.951±1.863)mg/L in mixed plaque group respectively,those were both higher than that of the rigidity plaque group[(2.762±1.323)mg/L],and there was significance difference between them(all P0.05). Conclusion There is a certain clinical significance for serum CRP level in estimating the stability of plaque in carotid artery.