Long-term prognostic value of C-reactive protein in unstable angina

CT Mesquita, EP Bernardo, GLG Almeida Jr, CG Salgado, AL Cascardo, FOD Rangel, RM Rocha and R Esporcatte

Hospital Pró-Cardíaco/Coronary Care Unit, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

from First International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine for Latin America:
São Paulo, Brazil. 26–29 June 2001

Critical Care 2001, 5(Suppl 3):P9doi:10.1186/cc1342

Published:

26 June 2001

Background

C-reactive protein (CRP) has been consistently correlated with cardiovascular events in patient with unstable angina (Biasucci LM etal: Circulation 1999, 99:855-860) and even in healthy individuals.

Objective

To analyze the relationship between CRP levels in patients hospitalized due to unstable angina and major adverse cardiac events during a 2-year follow up.

Population and method

We prospectively studied 22 consecutive patients admitted to our Coronary Care Unit between October 1997 and December 1997, and who had at least two CRP measurements. Admission and highest values were selected for statistical analyses. Follow up was made through phone calls to patients, relatives or assistant physicians, and end-points were death or readmission due to cardiovascular events. Patients were divided in two subgroups according to a CRP level cutoff ≤ 1 mg%. Survival free of events was analyzed by Kaplan-Meyer method, and log-rank test was applied for comparison between curves.

Results

See Table.

Table.

Conclusion

Elevated CRP levels in patients admitted due to unstable angina can predict cardiovascular prognosis during a 2-year follow up. As only highest values correlated with worst outcomes, it seems reasonable that two or more measurements should be done during hospitalization.

This article is part of the supplement: First International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine for Latin America: