TY - JOUR
T1 - C-reactive protein and atherosclerosis of the thoracic aorta
T2 - A population-based transesophageal echocardiographic study
AU - Agmon, Yoram
AU - Khandheria, Bijoy K.
AU - Meissner, Irene
AU - Petterson, Tanya M.
AU - O'Fallon, W. Michael
AU - Wiebers, David O.
AU - Christianson, Teresa J.H.
AU - McConnell, Joseph P.
AU - Whisnant, Jack P.
AU - Seward, James B.
AU - Tajik, A. Jamil
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2004/9/13
Y1 - 2004/9/13
N2 - Background: An association between systemic inflammatory markers and the presence and severity of atherosclerotic plaques has not been demonstrated in a non-selected population. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of inflammatory markers with aortic atherosclerotic plaques in a sample of the general population and in a subgroup free of clinical vascular disease. Methods: Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 386 subjects (median age, 66 years; 53% men). We examined the association between systemic inflammatory markers and aortic atherosclerotic plaques. Results: Aortic plaques were present in 267 subjects (69%). Plaques at least 4 and 6 mm thick and mobile debris were present in 114, 41, and 20 subjects, respectively. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level was associated with the presence of aortic plaques, adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, and additional atherosclerosis risk factors. Among subjects with plaques, hs-CRP level was independently associated with plaques at least 6 mm thick; similar trends were observed for the associations of hs-CRP level with plaques at least 4 mm thick and mobile debris. In subjects with aortic plaques who were free of clinically apparent coronary artery or cerebrovascular disease, hs-CRP level was independently associated with plaques at least 6 mm thick. Conclusions: Level of hs-CRP is independently associated with the presence and severity of aortic atherosclerotic plaques. These observations establish the association of systemic inflammation with anatomically defined atherosclerosis in the general population.
AB - Background: An association between systemic inflammatory markers and the presence and severity of atherosclerotic plaques has not been demonstrated in a non-selected population. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of inflammatory markers with aortic atherosclerotic plaques in a sample of the general population and in a subgroup free of clinical vascular disease. Methods: Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 386 subjects (median age, 66 years; 53% men). We examined the association between systemic inflammatory markers and aortic atherosclerotic plaques. Results: Aortic plaques were present in 267 subjects (69%). Plaques at least 4 and 6 mm thick and mobile debris were present in 114, 41, and 20 subjects, respectively. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level was associated with the presence of aortic plaques, adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, and additional atherosclerosis risk factors. Among subjects with plaques, hs-CRP level was independently associated with plaques at least 6 mm thick; similar trends were observed for the associations of hs-CRP level with plaques at least 4 mm thick and mobile debris. In subjects with aortic plaques who were free of clinically apparent coronary artery or cerebrovascular disease, hs-CRP level was independently associated with plaques at least 6 mm thick. Conclusions: Level of hs-CRP is independently associated with the presence and severity of aortic atherosclerotic plaques. These observations establish the association of systemic inflammation with anatomically defined atherosclerosis in the general population.
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U2 - 10.1001/archinte.164.16.1781
DO - 10.1001/archinte.164.16.1781
M3 - Article
C2 - 15364672
AN - SCOPUS:4544345260
SN - 0003-9926
VL - 164
SP - 1781
EP - 1787
JO - Archives of internal medicine
JF - Archives of internal medicine
IS - 16
ER -