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Thromb Haemost 2005; 94(05): 1048-1053
DOI: 10.1160/TH05-06-0384
Wound Healing and Inflammation/Infection
Schattauer GmbH

Complement C3 and C-reactive protein levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Ramzi Ajjan
1   Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Genetics Health and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
,
Peter J. Grant
1   Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Genetics Health and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
,
Timothy S. Futers
1   Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Genetics Health and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
,
Jane M. Brown
1   Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Genetics Health and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
,
Charlotte M. Cymbalista
1   Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Genetics Health and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
,
May Boothby
1   Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Genetics Health and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
,
Angela M. Carter
1   Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Genetics Health and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
› Author Affiliations Financial support:R. A. Ajjan is funded by a Clinician Scientist Award from the Department of Health, UK.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 01 June 2005

Accepted after revision: 02 August 2005

Publication Date:
14 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

The aim of this study was to determine whether complement C3 is an indicator of coronary artery disease (CAD). We measured plasma C3 and CRP levels in 278 patients undergoing coronary angiography for typical symptoms of CAD and 269 healthy age and sex matched controls. C3 levels were significantly higher in patients compared with controls (1.15 g/l and 0.92 g/l respectively; p<0.001). In the patient group, C3 levels correlated with BMI, fasting glucose, HbA1c, fibrinogen, CRP and HDL in both men and women. CRP levels were also higher in patients compared with controls (1.14 mg/l and 0.86 mg/l respectively; p=0.005) and correlated with markers of the metabolic syndrome. In a logistic regression model including C3, smoking, hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes, C3 was independently associated with CAD with an odds ratio of 3.20 for a 1 SD increase in C3 levels. In contrast, CRP was not independently associated with CAD in a similar regression analysis. In conclusion, both C3 and CRP plasma levels are elevated in patients with symptoms of CAD. However, C3 seems to be a better indicator of CAD than CRP in this study, suggesting that C3 could be an additional marker for risk stratification in atherosclerosis.

Keywords

Coronary artery disease - inflammation - C3 - CRP - myocardial infarction
 

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