Clinical significance of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and cardiac troponin I in patients with chronic heart failure

Objective To investigate the changes and values of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in patients with chronic heart failure.Methods Eighty patients with chronic heart failure (heart failure group) were divided into NYHA heart function Ⅲ grade ( 40 patients) and Ⅳ grade (40 patients).Eighty healthy people were included in control group.The levels of serum hs-CRP and cTnI were measured and compared.Results Before treatment,the levels of hs-CRP and cTnI in heart failure group [ ( 11.56 ± 2.72) mg/L,(0.46 ± 0.11 ) μ g/L] were significantly higher than those in control group [ (2.31 ± 0.56) mg/L,(0.04 ± 0.13 ) μg/L ] (P ＜ 0.01 ).The levels of hs-CRP and cTnI in heart function Ⅳ grade patients [ ( 13.07 ± 4.31 ) mg/L,(0.57 ± 0.05 ) μg/L] were significantly higher than those in heart function Ⅲ grade patients [(10.04 ±3.12) mg/L,(0.35 ±0.09) μg/L](P＜0.01).After treatment,the levels of hs-CRP and cTnI in heart function Ⅲ grade and Ⅳ grade patients were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions The levels of hs-CRP and cTnI in chronic heart failure patients are related to the inflammatory activities and myocardial damage.hs-CRP and cTnI may be effective factors to reflect the severity of heart failure. Key words: Heart failure, congestive;  C- reactive protein;  Troponin I