The role of fibrinogen and CRP in cardiovascular risk in patients with acromegaly

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with active acromegaly have 2- to 3-fold increased cardiovascular mortality. Alterations of acute phase proteins, observed in acromegaly, could lead to cardiovascular diseases. Aim of the study was to evaluate fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP) secretion in patients with acromegaly.
Material and methods: Seventy-seven patients were divided into groups with active (AA, n = 56) and controlled acromegaly (CA, n = 21). Twenty age- and sex-matched healthy subjects served as controls. Serum fibrinogen, CRP, fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.
Results: Comparison between the groups revealed: higher fibrinogen, triglycerides, glucose levels, and BMI values in AA than in the controls; higher CRP, fibrinogen, triglyceride levels, and BMI values in CA than in the controls; higher LDL cholesterol and insulin levels and lower CRP levels and BMI values in the AA group than in the CA group. Fibrinogen concentration was highest in the AA group and lowest in the control group. Fibrinogen levels were high in all patients with acromegaly, irrespective of disease status, and they were significantly higher than in healthy subjects. CRP concentration was highest in the CA group and lowest in the control group. CRP levels were significantly and paradoxically lower in patients with AA than in patients with well-controlled disease and did not explain the increased cardiovascular mortality in acromegaly.
Conclusions: Fibrinogen plays an important role as a cardiovascular risk factor in acromegaly, irrespective of the cure of the disease. The role of CRP as a cardiovascular risk factor in patients with uncontrolled acromegaly should be better explained in future studies.
(Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 83-88)