High sensitive C-reactive protein (HsCRP) as a cardiovascular risk factor in hypertensive Nigerians

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of plasma high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) levels on hypertensive and apparently healthy normotensive Nigerians in the management of hypertension. This is a preliminary study; a study involving larger numbers of normotensives and hypertensives is in progress. Plasma C-reactive protein level was determined in 150 hypertensive patients mean age 46.8±8.2 years and 30 apparently healthy normotensive individuals mean age 38.8 ±13.2years using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The hypertensive subjects had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (p-value < 0.05) than the normotensive subjects (BMI=28.34 ±4.40kg/m2 Vs. 25.79±2.91kg/m2). The hypertensive subjects also had significantly higher C- reactive protein values (0.18 ± 0.1mg/dL Vs 0.08±0.04 mg/dL) (p-value < 0.0001). Among the hypertensive subjects, there was no significant difference in the level of C-reactive protein between the males and the females (0.17±0.10 mg/dL Vs 0.20±0.09 mg/dL). In the hypertensive patients, CRP positively correlated with atherogenic index (r = 0.551, p < 0.05) and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk (r= 0.589, p < 0.05). However, in normotensive patients, CRP was positively correlated with atherogenic index (r = 0.492, p < 0.01) but negatively correlated with CHD risk (r = -0.475, p < 0.01). These results show that the plasma concentrations of HsCRP in hypertensive subjects were significantly higher than those of the normotensive subjects and HsCRP positively correlated with atherogenic index and CHD risk in hypertensive Nigerians.