The role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein for assessing coronary artery disease severity and left ventricular end diastolic pressure in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Much attention has recently been focused on the underlying role of circulating inflammatory biomarkers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein for predicting cardiovascular disease progression. We therefore set out to assess the relationship between the value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and (i) coronary artery disease severity, and (ii) left ventricular end diastolic pressure. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: The Shafa hospital in Kerman, Iran. PATIENTS: A total of 107 consecutive patients referred for coronary angiography from January 2008 to January 2009 were prospectively studied. INTERVENTION AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All patients underwent coronary angiography. They all had undergone left ventricular end diastolic pressure measurement, involving a 6-Fr pigtail catheter and a properly zeroed fluid-filled pressure transducer. For each patient, the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was also determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels could strongly predict increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure (standardised beta=1.010; P=0.008), with other patient variables being confounders, but there was no significant association between these levels and Gensini scores. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that among the study parameters, systolic hypertension (standardised beta=1.611; P=0.047) and a family history of coronary artery disease (standardised beta=1.911; P=0.005) were the main predictors of high Gensini scores in study patients. CONCLUSION: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein level is a clinical parameter that could predict left ventricular end diastolic pressure and left ventricular dysfunction, but was not associated with the severity of coronary artery disease.

Relationship between serum level of high-sensitive C-reactive protein and extension of myocardial involvement in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: The high-sensitive C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) assay is being increasingly used as a marker for cardiac risk assessment and as a prognostic tool in heart disease. In current study, we assessed the relationship between serum level of HS-CRP and extension of myocardial involvement in acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 50 patients with the final diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and admitted for the first time in CCU wards of the Kerman University in 2010 were studied. Serum HS-CRP and Troponin I level was measured using commercial ELISA kits, 24 hours after the appearance of first manifestations. All patients underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography for assessing the number and severity of involved segments as well as wall motion abnormality. RESULTS: There was a strong positive correlation between the serum level of HS-CRP and serum Troponin I level (beta = 0.509, p < 0.001). Multivariable linear regression showed that the level of HS-CRP could strongly predict serum level of Troponin I within the first 24 hours of MI appearance (Beta = 0.308, Standard Error = 0.080, p < 0.001). But, no significant relationships were revealed between the mean serum HS-CRP level and the location of myocardial infarction, the number of involved segments, left ventricular ejection fraction, and ST-segment elevation score. CONCLUSION: For a strong correlation between HS-CRP and Troponin I, HS-CRP can be a useful biomarker for predicting extended myocardial involvement in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of a novel rigid 3, 4-dihydroxy chalcone in mice.

There have been many reports indicating the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of 3,4-dihydroxychalcones. We have designed and synthesized a rigid 3,4-dihydroxychalcone (RDHC) as a possible drug effecting inflammation and nociception. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by formalin and hot-plate tests, respectively. The results showed that RDHC induced significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects (P < 0.01). Maximum analgesia (63.7%) was observed at 37.5 mg/kg in the first phase of the formalin test. The effect of RDHC was higher in the chronic phase (inflammation phase) of the formalin test (86.4%, P < 0.01). In addition, a significant analgesia (maximum possible effect; MPE = 30.1%) was observed in the hot plate test 45 min after injection of 37.5 mg/kg RDHC (P < 0.01). As a result of our findings, this new RDHC could be suggested for further pharmacological studies.