Publication:

High sensitivity C-reactive protein in metabolic syndrome

Background Presence of metabolic syndrome in an individual substantially increases his risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Occurrence of both obesity and type 2 DM have reached epidemic proportions in India. Metabolic syndrome is considered to be a proinflamatory state associated with low grade systemic inflammation. C- reactive protein is a robust biomarker of this chronic systemic inflammation. Higher values of  high sensitivity C- reactive protein (hs-CRP) are associated with metabolic syndrome and its components and provides additional prognostic information on future development of cardiovascular events in them.

Methods 50 patients aged 18 years and above with metabolic syndrome, and 50 age and sex matched controls attending OPD or admitted to medicine department wards of Bangalore Medical College were enrolled for this cross sectional study. The new IDF criteria were used for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. A fasting blood sample was drawn for estimation of hs-CRP, blood glucose and lipid profile. Waist circumference, height and weight were measured at the same time. The results were tabulated and analysed.

Results There was a statistically significant difference in values of various demographic parameters like BMI, waist circumference, BP and biochemical parameters like blood sugar, lipid profile   between cases and controls. Patients with metabolic syndrome had higher mean value of hs-CRP (8.3±1.04 Vs 1.6±0.79mg/l) with a p value <0.001.

Conclusions Patients with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher levels of hs-CRP when compared to controls and hs-CRP levels increased linearly with increasing number of metabolic syndrome components. Hence hs-CRP can probably be used as a surrogate marker of chronic inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome.