C-Reactive Protein Modifies the Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Microalbuminuria

Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP) and microalbuminuria reflect intimately related components of the atherosclerotic disease process. Epidemiological studies found only modest associations between CRP and microalbuminuria. Blood pressure, one of the components of the metabolic syndrome in the general population, is the main determinant of microalbuminuria in diabetes and hypertension. We questioned whether CRP modifies the relationship of blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors with microalbuminuria in a cross-sectional study in 8592 inhabitants from Groningen, The Netherlands. The crude data showed an increase in the prevalence of microalbuminuria with increasing CRP quartiles (4.8, 9.6, 14.5, and 18.6%, P P =0.03). In subjects with a MAP 90 mm Hg (prevalence: 6.7%, 13.6%, 20.4%, 25.1%; P P =0.0004). No significant interactions between other risk factors and CRP with respect to the risk of microalbuminuria were encountered. Thus, CRP modifies the relation between blood pressure and microalbuminuria.