The relationship between plasma C-reactive protein levels and presence and severity of coronary stenosis in patients with stable angina.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is an inflammation marker and potential predictor of cardiovascular events. However, there is no consensus on the relationship between plasma hsCRP levels and angiographically documented severe coronary lesions in patients with stable angina pectoris. In this study we aimed to assess whether plasma levels of hsCRP can indicate the severity of the coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable angina. A total of 52 subjects, who had undergone coronary angiography were divided into two groups as follows: those with stable angina (group 1, at least one coronary arteries stenosis >50%, n = 26) and normal (group 2, n = 26). Severity of CAD was evaluated by using the Gensini score index. For each group, the levels of hsCRP were measured. HsCRP levels were compared in the subjects with normal coronary arteries, and in those with one-, two-, and three-vessel CAD, and no significant differences among the groups were found (analysis of variance, p>0.05). There was no significant correlation between hsCRP levels and Gensini score index (r = 0.278, p = 0.169). We conclude that there is no relationship between hsCRP levels and the presence and severity of CAD in patients with stable angina.