TY - JOUR
T1 - C-Reactive Protein Is Associated with Arterial Stiffness in Apparently Healthy Individuals
AU - Yasmin,
AU - McEniery, Carmel M.
AU - Wallace, Sharon
AU - Mackenzie, Isla S.
AU - Cockcroft, John R.
AU - Wilkinson, Ian B.
PY - 2004/5
Y1 - 2004/5
N2 - Objective-C-reactive protein (CRP) levels predict outcome in healthy individuals and patients with atherosclerosis. Arterial stiffness also independently predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and may be involved in the process of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stiffness and inflammation in a cohort of healthy individuals. Methods and Results-Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and blood pressure were assessed in 427 individuals. Subjects with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and those using medication were excluded. CRP correlated with age, mean arterial pressure (MAP), brachial and aortic PWV, and pulse pressures. In multiple regression models, aortic PWV correlated independently with age, CRP, male gender, and MAP (R2=0.593; P<0.001). CRP was also independently associated with brachial PWV. Aortic augmentation index correlated with age, gender, MAP, and inversely with heart rate and height, but not with CRP (R2=0.794; P<0.001). Aortic, carotid, and brachial pulse pressures were also independently associated with CRP levels. Conclusion-Aortic and brachial PWV, and pulse pressure, relate to levels of inflammation in healthy individuals, suggesting that inflammation may be involved in arterial stiffening. Anti-inflammatory strategies may, therefore, be of benefit in reducing arterial stiffness and thus cardiovascular risk, especially in patients with premature arterial stiffening.
AB - Objective-C-reactive protein (CRP) levels predict outcome in healthy individuals and patients with atherosclerosis. Arterial stiffness also independently predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and may be involved in the process of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stiffness and inflammation in a cohort of healthy individuals. Methods and Results-Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and blood pressure were assessed in 427 individuals. Subjects with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and those using medication were excluded. CRP correlated with age, mean arterial pressure (MAP), brachial and aortic PWV, and pulse pressures. In multiple regression models, aortic PWV correlated independently with age, CRP, male gender, and MAP (R2=0.593; P<0.001). CRP was also independently associated with brachial PWV. Aortic augmentation index correlated with age, gender, MAP, and inversely with heart rate and height, but not with CRP (R2=0.794; P<0.001). Aortic, carotid, and brachial pulse pressures were also independently associated with CRP levels. Conclusion-Aortic and brachial PWV, and pulse pressure, relate to levels of inflammation in healthy individuals, suggesting that inflammation may be involved in arterial stiffening. Anti-inflammatory strategies may, therefore, be of benefit in reducing arterial stiffness and thus cardiovascular risk, especially in patients with premature arterial stiffening.
KW - Augmentation index
KW - C-reactive protein
KW - Inflammation
KW - Pulse wave analysis
KW - Pulse wave velocity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=2442536110&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1161/01.ATV.zhq0504.0173
DO - 10.1161/01.ATV.zhq0504.0173
M3 - Article
C2 - 15001456
AN - SCOPUS:2442536110
SN - 1079-5642
VL - 24
SP - 969
EP - 974
JO - Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
JF - Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
IS - 5
ER -