Abstract
Backgrounds and objectives: Acute coronary syndrome represents the final ischemic manifestation of underlying vascular inflammation. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is an important prognostic marker reflecting systemic inflammation and increased disease activity. The aim of this study to assess the correlation between the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the coronary angiographic findings.
Methods: In this prospective series, at Sulaymaniyah Cardiac Hospital, between July 2022 until January 2023, 150 patients with acute coronary syndrome including unstable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, and ST elevation myocardial infarction were enrolled in the study. All patient underwent coronary angiography and those patient with infection or fever, cases of chronic inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and patients with cancer in which affected high sensitivity CRP levels were excluded from the study. Clinical symptoms were recorded and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels measured along with other basic investigations levels on admission, angiographic findings included evaluating the number of occluded vessels and the presence of atherosclerosis. Correlation between severity of coronary artery stenosis and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels assessed using statistical analysis.
Results: The mean age was 56, and 102 patients 68% were men. About 141 patients 90% were overweight or obese. 78 patients 52% had ST-elevation myocardial infarction and 72 patients 42% had unstable angina, whereas 84 cases 74% had high-sensitivity C-reactive protein >3 mg/L. 121 cases 86% had left anterior descending artery disease, and 120 cases 80% were found to have multivessel disease, while 36 cases 24% had a visible thrombus. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels significantly correlated with the number of blocked arteries (p=0.001).
Conclusion: High sensitivity CRP levels are significantly elevated in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome and it correlates with the severity of coronary disease and the number of vessels involved.