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C-reactive protein is not related to ambulatory blood pressure or target organ damage in treated hypertensives
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Abstract
Materials and methods The studied group consisted of 299 male hypertensive patients. Patients were stratified into low (≤ 2 mg/L), intermediate (2–5 mg/L), and high (> 5 mg/L) CRP groups. We measured ambulatory blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, left ventricular function and structure, carotid intima media thickness and ankle-brachial index.
Results Twenty-six percent of the patients had CRP in the range of 2 to 5 mg/L, and 12% had CRP levels exceeding 5 mg/L. Ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate were not different across the three groups. Patients with high CRP had lower HDL cholesterol levels and higher plasma fibrinogen levels. Carotid femoral pulse wave velocity, carotid intima media thickness and ankle-brachial index were not different across the three groups. Echocardiographic data were also not related to the CRP level.
Conclusions
1. Elevated levels of CRP are frequently observed among treated patients with hypertension.
2. CRP elevation is associated with higher fibrinogen and glucose levels, and lower HDL cholesterol independently of obesity and smoking status.
3. Elevated CRP levels are not related to ambulatory blood pressure profile or target organ damage severity.
4. Our findings are consistent with the concept that CRP measurement is of limited value in cardiovascular assessment.
Abstract
Materials and methods The studied group consisted of 299 male hypertensive patients. Patients were stratified into low (≤ 2 mg/L), intermediate (2–5 mg/L), and high (> 5 mg/L) CRP groups. We measured ambulatory blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, left ventricular function and structure, carotid intima media thickness and ankle-brachial index.
Results Twenty-six percent of the patients had CRP in the range of 2 to 5 mg/L, and 12% had CRP levels exceeding 5 mg/L. Ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate were not different across the three groups. Patients with high CRP had lower HDL cholesterol levels and higher plasma fibrinogen levels. Carotid femoral pulse wave velocity, carotid intima media thickness and ankle-brachial index were not different across the three groups. Echocardiographic data were also not related to the CRP level.
Conclusions
1. Elevated levels of CRP are frequently observed among treated patients with hypertension.
2. CRP elevation is associated with higher fibrinogen and glucose levels, and lower HDL cholesterol independently of obesity and smoking status.
3. Elevated CRP levels are not related to ambulatory blood pressure profile or target organ damage severity.
4. Our findings are consistent with the concept that CRP measurement is of limited value in cardiovascular assessment.
Keywords
ambulatory blood pressure, arterial stiffness, C-reactive protein, hypertension, inflammation, left ventricular hypertrophy, pulse wave velocity, target organ damage
About this articleTitle
C-reactive protein is not related to ambulatory blood pressure or target organ damage in treated hypertensives
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
45-49
Published online
2015-03-31
Page views
1039
Article views/downloads
1810
DOI
10.5603/AH.2015.0008
Bibliographic record
Arterial Hypertension 2015;19(1):45-49.
Keywords
ambulatory blood pressure
arterial stiffness
C-reactive protein
hypertension
inflammation
left ventricular hypertrophy
pulse wave velocity
target organ damage
Authors
Michał Hoffmann
Katarzyna Polonis
Anna Szyndler
Ewa Świerblewska
Katarzyna Kunicka
Wiesława Kucharska
Robert Nowak
Jacek Wolf
Marzena Chrostowska
Krzysztof Narkiewicz