Published Online
on August 9, 2004

A more recent version of this article appeared on August 17, 2004

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Submitted on September 2, 2003
Revised on February 6, 2003
Accepted on April 13, 2004

C-Reactive Protein Levels and the Expansion of Screen-Detected Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Men

Paul Norman MB, ChB, DS, FRACS^*, Carole A. Spencer; , Michael M. Lawrence-Brown MB, BS, FRACS, and Konrad Jamrozik MBBS, DPhil, FAFPH

From the School of Surgery and Pathology, The University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia (P.N.); the School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia (C.A.S., K.J.); The Mount Hospital, Perth, Western Australia (M.M.L.-B.); and the Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, and Imperial College London (K.J.).

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: pnorman{at}cyllene.uwa.edu.au.

Background--C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been shown to predict a number of cardiovascular outcomes. CRP levels have also been found to be elevated in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). The aim of this study was to assess the relation between CRP levels and rates of expansion of small AAAs.

Methods and Results--A cohort of men with small aneurysms was identified in a trial of screening with ultrasound scanning. After initial screening, men were rescanned at 6- to 12-month intervals. CRP levels were measured at the first follow-up visit. Rates of expansion and risk factors for expansion were assessed with the use of data from 545 men who attended for at least 1 scan after CRP levels were measured. These men were followed for a median of 48 (range, 5 to 69) months. The mean annual rate of expansion was 1.6 mm. The median CRP level was 2.6 mg/L in men with the smaller AAAs (30 to 39 mm, n=433) compared with 3.5 mg/L in men with larger AAAs (40 to 54 mm, n=112) (P=0.007). The multivariate age-adjusted logistic model confirmed initial aortic diameter to be the only factor associated with rapid expansion with an odds ratio of 7.2 (95% CI, 4.3,12.2) for an initial diameter of 40 to 54 mm relative to one of 30 to 39 mm.

Conclusions--Most small aneurysms expand slowly. CRP levels are elevated in larger aneurysms but do not appear to be associated with rapid expansion. The most useful predictor of aneurysmal expansion in men is aortic diameter.

Key words: aorta • aneurysm • proteins • risk factors

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