Increase in high-sensitive C-reactive protein as a marker of polyvascular disease in patients with cardiovascular diseases

Aim. To estimate the prevalence of inflammatory residual risk in patients with stable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and establish the relationship between concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the presence of the polyvascular disease. Materials and Methods. The study included 120 patients with stable ASCVD. The plan of the instrumental study included ultrasound scanning of the carotid arteries and lower limb arteries with measurement of the ankle-brachial index. The concentration of hsCRP in the serum was determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. An increase in the content of hsCRP ≥ 2,0 mg/l was detected in 45,8% of patients. Clinically significant lesion of one vascular bed was observed in 41,6% of patients, two – in 36,6%, three – in 21,6%. In the group of patients with atherosclerosis of the three vascular beds, the median value of hsCRP was 3,28 (1,77–5,67) mg/l, which was statistically significantly higher compared to patients with the involvement of one vascular bed – 1,56 (0,68–3,92) mg/L. An increase in hsCRP over 2,0 mg/l was associated with an increase in the relative risk of a patient with polyvascular disease with a atherosclerosis of three vascular beds 3,63 times (95% CI 1,06–12,4; p = 0,04) with adjusting for gender, age, obesity, diabetes, smoking, cholesterol levels and glomerular filtration rate. Conclusion. Inflammatory residual risk was observed in 45,8% of patients with stable ASCVD. An increase in CRP was established with an increase in the number of affected vascular beds. An increase in hsCRP over 2,0 mg/l was independently associated with an increase in the relative risk of a patient having an polyvascular disease.