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High-Sensitivity CRP Is Correlated With Neurologic Symptoms and Plaque Instability in Patients With Severe Stenosis of the Carotid Bifurcation

Department of Vascular Surgery, General Hospital "Georgios Gennimatas," Athens, pfanis{at}otenet.gr

Chrysostomos K. Maltezos, MD

Department of Vascular Surgery, General Hospital "Georgios Gennimatas," Athens

Nikolaos Papanas, MD

Second Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis

Georgios Kopadis, MD

Department of Vascular Surgery, General Hospital "Georgios Gennimatas," Athens

Joseph Marakis, MD

Department of Vascular Surgery, General Hospital "Georgios Gennimatas," Athens

Efstratios Maltezos, MD

Second Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis

Elias Bastounis, MD

Department of Surgery, University of Athens, Laiko Hospital Athens, Greece

The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and E-selectin with clinical manifestations and plaque characteristics in 88 patients (69 with and 19 without neurological symptoms) with high-grade stenosis of the carotid bifurcation who underwent endarterectomy. The grade of stenosis was quantified by duplex ultrasonography and digital subtraction angiography. Preoperatively, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and E-selectin were measured. Postoperatively, carotid plaque morphology was established according to the American Heart Association classification. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were significantly (P < .001) higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients, as well as in patients with unstable compared with those with stable plaques (P < .001). Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels correlated significantly ( P < .05) with macrophage count on the plaque. In conclusion, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels are associated with presence of neurological symptoms and plaque instability in patients with high-grade stenosis of the carotid bifurcation.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • carotid • CRP • inflammation • vascular risk

This version was published on June 1, 2008

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Vol. 42, No. 3, 249-255 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1538574408314437


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