Is high-sensitivity C-reactive protein involved in the cardiovascular comorbidities of acromegaly?

Objective: In addition to its involvement in the acute phase response, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is directly involved in the process of atherogenesis. The study set out to determine the serum levels of hsCRP in acromegaly, attempting to demonstrate a possible implication of its proatherogenic efect in the cardiovascular comorbidities of the disease. Material and Method: This cross-sectional research enrolled 65 acromegaly patients and 30 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy subjects (HS). According to the therapeutic response, the acromegaly group was categorized into two subgroups: group A (active disease, n=50) and group B (controlled disease, n=15). HsCRP was measured by the sandwich ELISA method. Results: Hypertension was the most common cardiovascular comorbidity in acromegaly patients (58.46%), followed by valvular heart disease (21.5%), acromegalic cardiomyopathy (16.92%), and arrhythmia (15.35%). Similar hsCRP values were observed in the acromegaly group and HS (p=0.706). A signifcant discrimination of hsCRP concentration between groups A and B was not identifed (p>0.05). Similar concentrations of hsCRP were found in acromegaly patients with and without hypertension (p=0.925), valvular heart disease (p=0.835), acromegalic cardiomyopathy (p=0.826), and arrhythmia (p=0.325). No correlation was detected between hsCRP and components of the lipid metabolism. Conclusion: HsCRP does not play a major role in the cardiovascular pathogenesis of acromegaly, thus its cardiovascular comorbidities seem to be primarily caused by the excess of GH/IGF-1.