C-reactive protein in patients with acute coronary syndrome: association with coronary markers, lipid profile and markers of coagulation

ABSTRACT

To determine levels of C-reactive protein [CRP] and its association with coronary markers, lipid profile and markers of coagulation in patients of acute coronary syndrome [ACS]. Case control study. The study was conducted at Shifa college of Medicine and Shifa international hospital for a period of one year [November 2005-December 2006]. Sixty nine age matched controls and 133 consecutive patients of ACS were included in the study. CRP were measured by immunoturbidometric method, MB fraction of creatine kinase [CK-MB] and Troponin-I by micro-particle enzyme immunoassay, lipid levels by Colorimetric Enzymatic methods, platelets by celldyn and coagulation markers were measured by CA-50 Sysmax. At admission mean CRP levels, cardiac biomarkers, lipid profile and coagulation markers were significantly increased in patients of ACS versus controls. Within the patients of ACS the mean levels of CRP, CK-MB, Trop I, prothrombin time [PT] and activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT] were significantly raised in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and non STEMI [NSTEMI] versus patients of unstable angina [UA]. Association between CRP levels and coronary markers, coagulation markers and lipid profile was found to be non significant. The CRP levels were increased in patients with ACS as compared to controls. The CRP levels were insignificantly correlated with coronary markers [CK-MB, Trop I], coagulation markers [platelet count, PT, APTT], and lipid profile [cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL cholesterol] in patients with ACS