[ comparison of serum CRP levels measured by a highly sensitive method in healthy subjects and asthmatic patients]

C- reactive protein [CRP] is a plasma protein which is a marker of inflammation. Recently it has been shown that the increased level of CRP is associated with increased risk of MI, IHD, DM and hypertension. There are plenty of published articles in regard to the role of CRP in the pathogenesis of COPD. Also a potential role for CRP in the pathogenesis of asthma has been proposed. The local inflammation is an established pathology in the asthma however, little is known about role of systemic inflammation. We compared serum levels of highly sensitive CRP between steroid inhaling asthmatic patients and non asthmatic healthy controls. This case-control study, based on standard criteria, included fifty known cases of asthmatic patients who met the inclusion criteria and fifty non asthmatic subjects. Serum levels of CRP were measured and compared with each other in both groups by ELISA method. All asthmatics were at the same stage of treatment. The mean age of the asthmatic patients was 46.9 +/- 9.8 years and that of control group was 44 +/- 14.35 years. Durations of pulmonary symptoms were <3 years in 20%, 3-5 years in 36%, 6-12 years in 24% and >13years in 20% of the patients. HS-CRP levels were significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in control patients [34.79 mg/dl versus 12.8 mg/dl respectively] [P=0.001]. HS-CRP levels had no significant relation with age, gender and duration of asthma. In asthma inflammation is not limited to airways and like COPD, evidence of systemic inflammation such as increased CRP can be detected