Background: Elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with acute coronary events. CRP is related to cardiovascular risk factors and adipokines. The aim of the study was to reveal the factors associated with elevated CRP levels in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). As there are sex-related differences in plasma levels of CRP and adipokines, our study was designed for males.
Methods: Seventy men admitted within the initial 6 hours of STEMI were categorized into 4 groups according to the quartile of CRP. Clinical data and laboratory measurements were analyzed.
Results: Anthropometric measurements, glucose at admission, resistin, and leptin were significantly higher, and adiponectin lower with the increase of CRP quartile. A significant positive correlation between CRP and body mass index, waist circumference, glucose at admission, resistin, and leptin and a negative relation of CRP to HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin were observed. In univariate logistic regression analysis, variables associated with a level of CRP above the fourth quartile were history of angina, obesity, diabetes, glucose at admission, resistin, leptin, and adiponectin, and independent predictors were glucose at admission and resistin. To predict the elevated CRP level the optimal cut-off for glucose at admission was 144 mg/dL (sensitivity 84%, specificity 86%) and for resistin was 21.5 ng/mL (sensitivity 79%, specificity 71%).
Conclusions: Glucose at admission and resistin are independently associated with elevated levels of CRP in men during the early stage of STEMI.