Thymic function failure and C-reactive protein levels are independent predictors of all-cause mortality in healthy elderly humans

Background: The prognostic impact of pneumonia and signs of systemic inflammation in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has not been fully elucidated yet. The aim of the present study was thus to investigate the association of pneumonia and the inflammation surrogate C-reactive protein with all-cause mortality in patients admitted for ADHF. Methods: We analysed data of 1939 patients admitted for ADHF. Patients were dichotomised according to the presence or absence of pneumonia. The primary endpoint of all-cause mortality was determined by death registry linkage. Results: In total, 412 (21.2%) patients had concomitant pneumonia. Median C-reactive protein levels were higher in patients with compared to patients without pneumonia (24.9 versus 9.8 mg/l, respectively; P<0.001). All-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with pneumonia ( P<0.001). In adjusted Cox regression models, pneumonia as well as C-reactive protein were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. Only C-reactive protein remained as independent predictor for long-term mortality. Conclusion: Pneumonia is relatively common in ADHF and a predictor for in-hospital mortality. However, inflammation in general seems to be more important than pneumonia itself for long-term prognosis. Compared to community-acquired pneumonia studies, C-reactive protein levels were rather low and therefore pneumonia might be over-diagnosed in ADHF patients.

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Positive correlation between neovascularization degree of carotid atherosclerosis determined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound and level of serum C-reactive protein

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000429 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 0187-0194 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Xiaoni Chang ◽

Jun Feng ◽

Litao Ruan ◽

Jing Shang ◽

Yanqiu Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Contrast Enhancement ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Artery Stenosis ◽

Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Contrast Enhanced ◽

Grade 3 ◽

Axis View

Background: Neovascularization is one of the most important risk factors for unstable plaque. This study was designed to correlate plaque thickness, artery stenosis and levels of serum C-reactive protein with the degree of intraplaque enhancement determined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Patients and methods: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed on 72 carotid atherosclerotic plaques in 48 patients. Contrast enhancement within the plaque was categorized as grade 1, 2 or 3. Maximum plaque thickness was measured in short-axis view. Carotid artery stenosis was categorized as mild, moderate or severe. Results: Plaque contrast enhancement was not associated with the degree of artery stenosis or with plaque thickness. Serum C-reactive protein levels were positively correlated with the number of new vessels in the plaque. C-reactive protein levels increased in the three groups(Grade 1: 3.72±1.79mg/L; Grade 2: 7.88±4.24 mg/L; Grade 3: 11.02±3.52 mg/L), with significant differences among them (F=10.14, P<0.01), and significant differences between each two groups (P<0.05). Spearmans rank correlation analysis showed that serum C-reactive protein levels were positively correlated with the degree of carotid plaque enhancement (Rs =0.69, P<0.01). Conclusions: The combination of C-reactive protein levels and intraplaque neovascularization detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasound may allow more accurate evaluation of plaque stability.

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