C-reactive protein as a risk factor for acute coronary syndrome

Objectives To assess the levels of CRP in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) [including unstable angina pectoris (UAP), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and sudden cardiac death (SCD)] compared with non ACS [including stable angina pectoris (SAP), old myocardial infarction (OMI) and healthy volunteers] and to test whether CRP are associated with clinical acute coronary syndrome. Methods Ultrasensitive immunoassay (rate nephelometry with the Beckman Immunochemistry Systems) was used to measure CRP levels in 91 patients with ACS (20 UAP, 69 AMI and 2 SCD) and 194 non ACS (34 SAP, 25 patients with healing phase of AMI, 41 OMI and 94 control healthy subjects). Results CRP levels were higher in ACS group [18 50 mg/L±23 98 mg/L (SE 2 51, n =91)] compared with non ACS group [3 89 mg/L±7 14 mg/L (SE 0 51, n =194)] ( P 0 01). Using Logistic Regression, CRP was a potent determinant of ACS (OR=1 65). Conclusions These results suggest that CRP has a strong association with ACS, and CRP is a risk factor of ACS.