RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 High sensitivity C-reactive protein in asthma
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 908
OP 912
DO 10.1183/09031936.06.00114405
VO 27
IS 5
A1 M. Takemura
A1 H. Matsumoto
A1 A. Niimi
A1 T. Ueda
A1 H. Matsuoka
A1 M. Yamaguchi
A1 M. Jinnai
A1 S. Muro
A1 T. Hirai
A1 Y. Ito
A1 T. Nakamura
A1 T. Mio
A1 K. Chin
A1 M. Mishima
YR 2006
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/27/5/908.abstract
AB Asthma is characterised by chronic inflammation of the airways, but the relevance of high-sensitivity assays for C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), which are known to be a sensitive marker of low-grade systemic inflammation, has not been fully studied in asthma. The objective was to examine serum hs-CRP levels in patients with asthma and their relationship to clinical characteristics and degree of airway inflammation. Serum hs-CRP levels were cross-sectionally examined in steroid-naive (n = 22) and steroid-inhaling (n = 23) adult patients with asthma and healthy controls (n = 14). All were nonsmokers. Serum hs-CRP levels were significantly increased in steroid-naive patients (mean±sd 1.33±1.48 mg·L−1) compared with controls (0.21±0.30 mg·L−1), but not in patients on inhaled corticosteroid. Among steroid-naive patients, serum hs-CRP levels significantly negatively correlated with indices of pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity and forced mid-expiratory flow) and positively with sputum eosinophil count. Among patients on inhaled corticosteroid, hs-CRP levels did not correlate with any indices. In conclusion, an increase in serum C-reactive protein levels measured by high-sensitivity assays may be associated with airflow obstruction and airway inflammation, and may serve as a surrogate marker of airway inflammation in asthma.