Study on the correlation between carotid intima-media thickness and C-reactive protein in patients with hypertension

Objective: To explore the relationship between the carotid Intima-media thickness and C-reactive protein in patients with essential hypertension.Methods: 105 patients with hypertension were selected,including 55 males and 50 females {mean age(57.8±5.2)years},65 healhy persons in physical examinations was selected as contrast,including 36 males and 29 females {mean age(56.4±5.1)years}.C-reactive protein(CRP) was determined by immunology method.B-mode ultrasound was used to scan carotid arteries of all the cases and the contrasts in order to check and measure intima-media thickness(IMT) and plaques of carotid arteries.The relations between concentration in hypertensive patientsof C-reactive protein with systolic and diastolic blood pressure,and between the C-reactive protein concentration and carotid IMT(IMT) were analyzed.Results: The concentrations of CRP and IMT were higher in the essential hypertension groups than those in the contrast group(P≤0.01).Positive correlation was found between concentrations of CRP and IMT.Conclusion: The increased concentrations of serum CRP were closely correlated with increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with hypertension.CRP,like TC,TG and IMT,was related with the degree of atherosclerosis.Inflammation is probably involved in the course of hypertension.Decrease in the concentrations of serum CRP and the control of inflammation can prevent the development of atherosclerosis.