 |
 |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Summaries for Patients are a service provided by Annals to help patients better understand the complicated and often mystifying language of modern medicine.
SUMMARIES FOR PATIENTS
Is C-Reactive Protein Specific for Vascular Disease in Women?
2 April 2002 | Volume 136 Issue 7 | Page I42
Summaries for Patients are presented for informational purposes only. These summaries are not a substitute for advice from your own medical provider. If you have questions about this material, or need medical advice about your own health or situation, please contact your physician. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine.
The summary below is from the full report titled "Is C-Reactive Protein Specific for Vascular Disease in Women?" It is in the 2 April 2002 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 136, pages 529-533). The authors are N Rifai, JE Buring, I-M Lee, JE Manson, and PM Ridker. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine.
What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Inflammation is the process that helps the body to fight infection or injury. A growing amount of information suggests that inflammation plays a role in the development of blockages in blood vessels and, thus, helps to cause cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke. For example, the blood levels of certain substances caused by inflammation are higher in people who develop cardiovascular disease than in people who do not. C-reactive protein (CRP) is one such inflammatory substance. However, CRP levels in the blood are increased in several types of illness and therefore may just be a marker of various illnesses rather than a reliable sign of cardiovascular disease.
Why did the researchers do this particular study?
To see whether CRP levels are elevated in people who eventually develop cancer, as is the case in people who develop cardiovascular disease.
Who was studied?
643 women who developed cancer or cardiovascular events and 643 women who remained free of these diseases during the 58 months of a large study of women's health.
How was the study done?
The researchers measured CRP levels in blood samples that the women had given at the start of the large study. The researchers then compared the levels of CRP in women who developed cancer, women who developed cardiovascular disease, and women who were free of both illnesses during the 58 months of the study.
What did the researchers find?
Higher CRP levels were associated with development of cardiovascular disease but not with development of cancer.
What were the limitations of the study?
This study examined only women, lasted less than 5 years, and measured CRP levels only once during the study.
What are the implications of the study?
This study suggests that rather than being a marker of disease in general, CRP is a marker of cardiovascular disease. Further research is needed before physicians can determine whether measuring CRP levels is a useful screening test for detecting early forms of heart disease.
Related articles in Annals:
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  W. Koenig, N. Khuseyinova, J. Baumert, and C. Meisinger Prospective Study of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein as a Determinant of Mortality: Results from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg Cohort Study, 1984-1998 Clin. Chem., February 1, 2008; 54(2): 335 - 342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Heikkila, S. Ebrahim, and D. A Lawlor A systematic review of the association between circulating concentrations of C reactive protein and cancer J Epidemiol Community Health, September 1, 2007; 61(9): 824 - 833. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Reitz, K. Berger, M. P.M. de Maat, M. Stoll, F. Friedrichs, I. Kardys, J. C.M. Witteman, and M. M.B. Breteler CRP Gene Haplotypes, Serum CRP, and Cerebral Small-Vessel Disease: The Rotterdam Scan Study and the MEMO Study Stroke, August 1, 2007; 38(8): 2356 - 2359. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Ramzy, V. Rao, L. C. Tumiati, N. Xu, R. Sheshgiri, J. Jackman, D. H. Delgado, and H. J. Ross Endothelin-1 accentuates the proatherosclerotic effects associated with C-reactive protein J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., May 1, 2007; 133(5): 1137 - 1146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Deutsch Evaluation of the Effect of Neptune Krill Oil on Chronic Inflammation and Arthritic Symptoms J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2007; 26(1): 39 - 48. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Siemes, L. E. Visser, J.-W. W. Coebergh, T. A.W. Splinter, J. C.M. Witteman, A. G. Uitterlinden, A. Hofman, H. A.P. Pols, and B. H.Ch. Stricker C-Reactive Protein Levels, Variation in the C-Reactive Protein Gene, and Cancer Risk: The Rotterdam Study J. Clin. Oncol., November 20, 2006; 24(33): 5216 - 5222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. K. Figaro, S. B. Kritchevsky, H. E. Resnick, R. I. Shorr, J. Butler, A. Shintani, B. W. Penninx, E. M. Simonsick, B. H. Goodpaster, A. B. Newman, et al. Diabetes, Inflammation, and Functional Decline in Older Adults: Findings from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (ABC) study. Diabetes Care, September 1, 2006; 29(9): 2039 - 2045. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Mazhar and S. Ngan C-reactive protein and colorectal cancer. QJM, August 1, 2006; 99(8): 555 - 559. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Trichopoulos, T. Psaltopoulou, P. Orfanos, A. Trichopoulou, and P. Boffetta Plasma C-reactive protein and risk of cancer: a prospective study from Greece. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., February 1, 2006; 15(2): 381 - 384. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. K. Koh, S. H. Han, M.-S. Shin, J. Y. Ahn, Y. Lee, and E. K. Shin Significant differential effects of lower doses of hormone therapy or tibolone on markers of cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study Eur. Heart J., July 2, 2005; 26(14): 1362 - 1368. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. F. Hilpert, P. M. Kris-Etherton, and S. G. West Lipid Response to a Low-Fat Diet with or without Soy Is Modified by C-Reactive Protein Status in Moderately Hypercholesterolemic Adults J. Nutr., May 1, 2005; 135(5): 1075 - 1079. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. J. M. Cano, C. Pichard, H. Roth, I. Court-Fortune, L. Cynober, M. Gerard-Boncompain, A. Cuvelier, J.-P. Laaban, J.-C. Melchior, J.-C. Raphael, et al. C-Reactive Protein and Body Mass Index Predict Outcome in End-Stage Respiratory Failure Chest, August 1, 2004; 126(2): 540 - 546. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. K. Koh, M.-S. Shin, I. Sakuma, J. Y. Ahn, D. K. Jin, H. S. Kim, D. S. Kim, S. H. Han, W.-J. Chung, and E. K. Shin Effects of Conventional or Lower Doses of Hormone Replacement Therapy in Postmenopausal Women Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., August 1, 2004; 24(8): 1516 - 1521. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. P. Erlinger, P. Muntner, and K. J. Helzlsouer WBC Count and the Risk of Cancer Mortality in a National Sample of U.S. Adults: Results from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Mortality Study Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., June 1, 2004; 13(6): 1052 - 1056. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. P. Erlinger, E. A. Platz, N. Rifai, and K. J. Helzlsouer C-Reactive Protein and the Risk of Incident Colorectal Cancer JAMA, February 4, 2004; 291(5): 585 - 590. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Fonseca, C. Desouza, S. Asnani, and I. Jialal Nontraditional Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Diabetes Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2004; 25(1): 153 - 175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. L. Stauffer, G. L. Hoetzer, D. T. Smith, and C. A. DeSouza Plasma C-reactive protein is not elevated in physically active postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2004; 96(1): 143 - 148. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. K. Koh, J. Y. Ahn, D. K. Jin, B.-K. Yoon, H. S. Kim, D. S. Kim, W. C. Kang, S. H. Han, I. S. Choi, and E. K. Shin Significant Differential Effects of Hormone Therapy or Tibolone on Markers of Cardiovascular Disease in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., October 1, 2003; 23(10): 1889 - 1894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Davison and S. R. Davis New Markers for Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Women: Impact of Endogenous Estrogen Status and Exogenous Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2003; 88(6): 2470 - 2478. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. M Ridker Clinical Application of C-Reactive Protein for Cardiovascular Disease Detection and Prevention Circulation, January 28, 2003; 107(3): 363 - 369. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. M. Ridker, N. Rifai, L. Rose, J. E. Buring, and N. R. Cook Comparison of C-Reactive Protein and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in the Prediction of First Cardiovascular Events N. Engl. J. Med., November 14, 2002; 347(20): 1557 - 1565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 The Link Between CRP and Vascular Disease in Women Journal Watch Cardiology, June 28, 2002; 2002(628): 4 - 4. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. Koenig and M. B. Pepys C-Reactive Protein Risk Prediction: Low Specificity, High Sensitivity Ann Intern Med, April 2, 2002; 136(7): 550 - 552. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Article
