Objectives- Both high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and spiral computed tomography coronary artery calcium score are valid markers of cardiovascular risk. It is unknown whether hs-CRP is a marker of atherosclerotic burden or whether it reflects a process leading to acute coronary events.
Methods- We studied the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and coronary calcium score in 143 patients that were candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Results- In our cross sectional study we found no significant association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and coronary calcium score in bivariants (p=0.162) and multivariable (p=0.062) analysis, but in patients who did not use statins, this association was significant and positive in bivariant (p=0.001) and in multivariate analysis this association was negative and significant (p=0.008).
Conclusion- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was not associated with coronary calcium score. The relation between C-reactive protein and clinical events might not be related to atherosclerotic burden. Measures of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein, and indices of atherosclerosis, such as coronary calcium score, are likely to provide distinct information regarding cardiovascular risk.