The prevalence of coronary artery disease is lower in Korea compared to most western countries. The increasing prevalence of the traditional atherosclerotic risk factors has been documented but the impact of inflammatory activity on coronary artery disease remains unclear. In this study, the role of inflammatory activity on coronary artery disease in Koreans was investigated.

This study included a consecutive cohort of 1057 patients who underwent coronary angiography. Patients with conditions that might change the CRP levels were excluded and 227 patients were finally enrolled. The CRP was measured using a highly sensitive Behring nephelometer BN II.

The mean CRP value of the enrolled patients was 1.06±0.51 mg/L (median : 0.95 mg/L). There were no differences in the CRP levels (1.17 ±0.57 vs. 0.92±0.42 mg/L, p=0.11) between patients with and without coronary artery disease. In logistic regression analysis, only the traditional risk factors (age, being male, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes) were independently associated with coronary artery disease. In patients with coronary artery disease, those with unstable angina had significantly higher CRP levels than those with stable angina (1.85±0.94 vs. 0.97±0.45 mg/L, p=0.02). However, the CRP levels were not correlated with the angiographic severity. 16.7% (15/89) of coronary artery disease patients without hyperlipidemia had a CRP level>3 mg/L.

The CRP level is not an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in Koreans. However, the CRP level was higher in patients with unstable angina than in those with stable clinical conditions.