Previous studies have shown a relationship between coronary or
carotid atherosclerosis and
C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. In the present investigation, we evaluated the relationship between high-sensitivity CRP (
hsCRP) concentrations and the presence of atherosclerotic lesions in the renal arteries and/or abdominal aorta. In 95 hypertensive patients who underwent intra-arterial DSA on suspicion of renovascular
disease, blood was sampled during the procedure for measurement of
hsCRP. The presence of atherosclerotic lesions was assessed at the level of the renal arteries and the abdominal aorta. Haemodynamically significant
renal artery stenosis was diagnosed when 50% or more
stenosis was observed. Patients with fibromuscular disease (n = 8) or incomplete data (n = 4) were excluded from analysis. The results revealed that the median
hsCRP concentrations were significantly higher among the 57 patients with
atherosclerosis of the aorta and/or renal arteries compared to those in the 26 patients without any angiographic lesions (4.6 vs 1.7 mg/l; P < 0.005). Moreover, in patients with
renal artery stenosis, levels of
hsCRP were higher when the degree of
stenosis exceeded 50%. However, the association between
hsCRP and the presence of
atherosclerosis appeared to be confounded by serum
creatinine,
creatinine clearance, age and gender. In the whole group a significant inverse relationship was found between
creatinine clearance and
hsCRP (P < 0.05). In conclusion,
hsCRP concentrations are related to atherosclerotic lesions in the renal arteries and the abdominal aorta. While this supports the view that atherosclerotic
renal artery stenosis is part of a systemic inflammatory
vascular disease, increased concentrations of CRP may also coincide with decreased renal function.