Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and markers of arterial stiffness.

Methods: We have analyzed the data of 3163 high cardiovascular risk patients selected from a larger cohort of patients inspected in Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos primary prevention cardiovascular unit. The criteria for inclusion was low value of CRP (<5 mg/l). The mean age of the selected sample was 54.03+/−6.10. Almost two thirds of them were females (65.7%). We divided all patients into two groups. The first group consisted of patients having CRP below 2 mg/l (n=2041), whereas the second group consisted of patients having CRP no less than 2 mg/l (n=1122). After that, these groups were compared with respect to the following markers of arterial stiffness: augmentation index (AiX), flow mediated dilatation (FMD), femoral and brachial pulse wave velocities (PWV (femoral), PWV (brachial)). Only femoral PWV significantly differed between the groups: (8.69+/−2.68 (CRP<2 mg/dl) vs 9.00+/−1.59 (CRP≥2 mg/dl); p=0.003), and there were no differences with respect to other markers. Division of patients into groups with CRP<3 mg/l (n=2623) and CRP≥3 mg/l (n = 540) yielded the same results. There was a significant difference only with regard to femoral PWV (8.74+/−2.45 (CRP<3) vs. 9,12+/−1,56 (CRP≥3); p=0,004).

Results: Our study suggests that there is a moderate relationship between CRP and arterial stiffness and it is best diagnosed by alterations of femoral PWV.