Higher C-reactive protein levels in healthy children were associated with lower flow-mediated dilatation (P=0.015 for trend) and greater carotid intima-media thickness (P=0.002 for trend).
Cross-Sectional (n=79)
Do elevated CRP levels correlate with impaired brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation and increased carotid intima-media thickness in healthy children?
Elevated CRP levels in healthy children are associated with early arterial changes, including impaired endothelial function and increased intima-media thickness, suggesting a role in early atherosclerosis.
p-value: p=0.015 for trend (FMD); 0.002 for trend (IMT)
Objective— Elevated serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) predicts cardiovascular events in adults. Because atherosclerosis begins in childhood, we undertook a study to determine whether changes in brachial artery endothelial function and the thickness of the carotid intima-media complex, 2 markers of early atherosclerosis, are related to CRP levels in healthy children. Methods and Results— Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured with ultrasound in 79 children (aged 10.5±1.1 years). Compared with the children with CRP levels under the detection limit (0.7 mg/L, n=19, group 3) had lower FMD (9.0±4.4% versus 7.8±3.3% versus 6.5±2.6%, respectively; P =0.015 for trend) and greater carotid IMT (0.45±0.03 versus 0.46±0.04 versus 0.49±0.06 mm, respectively, P =0.002 for trend). CRP level remained a statistically significant independent predictor for brachial FMD and carotid IMT in multivariate analyses. Conclusions— These data suggest that CRP affects the arteries of healthy children by disturbing endothelial function and promoting intima-media thickening. The findings support the hypothesis that CRP plays a role in the pathogenesis of early atherosclerosis.
Järvisalo et al. (2002) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=79). Elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels vs. CRP levels under the detection limit (<0.1 mg/L) was evaluated on Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) (p=0.015 for trend (FMD); 0.002 for trend (IMT)). Higher C-reactive protein levels in healthy children were associated with lower flow-mediated dilatation (P=0.015 for trend) and greater carotid intima-media thickness (P=0.002 for trend).
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