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High sensitivity C-reactive protein in asthma

¹ Depts of Respiratory Medicine, and ² Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

CORRESPONDENCE: H. Matsumoto, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Postgraduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. Fax: 81 757514643. E-mail: hmatsumo{at}kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Keywords: Airway inflammation, asthma, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, induced sputum

Received: October 2, 2005
Accepted November 25, 2005

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.

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