The Relation Between The Serum C-reactive Protein Concentrations And Slow Coronary Flow

Objective To study the relation between the level of serum C-reactive protein and slow coronary flow(SCF).Methods The study population included 70 patients with angiographically proven normal epicardial coronary arteries.Coronary flow patterns of the cases were determined by the Corrected Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction frame count method (cTFC).The cTFC was calculated separately for each coronary artery and their average was determined as the mean cTFC for each subject.Patients whose average cTFC greater than 27 were included in the SCF group(n=30) and the other were included in the control group(n=40).Comparison of categorical and continuous variables between the two groups was performed using unpaired t-test and Chi-squre.Multivariate analysis evaluating predictors of SCF was performed using regression test.Results There were no statistical difference between the two groups concering the age,gender ,history of hypertension ,diabetes mellitus and cigarette smoking,fasting plasma glucose and lipid levels .However,the level of serum C-reactive protein was significantly higher in the SCF group compared with the NCF group (4.12±0.84 vs. 2.55±0.72μg/ml,P=0.001) .Multivariate regression analysis showed the regression equation;cTFC=11.695+4.157×C-reactive protein,F=58.686,P=0.001.The level of serum C-reactive protein was prove to be the risk factor of SCF by means of Logistic regression test (OR=2.250,P=0.001) .Conclusions Serum C-reactive protein concentrations increased,and was positive correlated with TIMI frame count in patients with SCF compared with normal coronary flow subject. Therefore , Increased CRP concentrations is the risk factor of SCF(OR=2.250). Inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of the SCF phenomenon.