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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2006;26:1883.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins

Childhood C-Reactive Protein in Predicting CRP and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Adulthood

The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Markus Juonala; Jorma S.A. Viikari; Tapani Rönnemaa; Leena Taittonen; Jukka Marniemi; Olli T. Raitakari

From The Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine (M.J.) and Departments of Medicine (J.S.A.V., T.R.) and Clinical Physiology (O.T.R.), University of Turku; Department of Pediatrics (L.T.), Vaasa Central Hospital; and National Public Health Institute (J.M.), Department of Health and Functional Capacity, Turku, Finland.

Correspondence to Olli T. Raitakari, Department of Clinical Physiology, PO Box 52, 20521 Turku, Finland. E-mail olli.raitakari{at}utu.fi

Background— Atherosclerosis begins in childhood, and inflammation may contribute to its pathophysiology. The value of measuring inflammatory markers in the pediatric risk assessment, however, is uncertain. We examined whether childhood C-reactive protein (CRP) levels predict CRP and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in adulthood.

Methods and Results— Study cohort included 1617 subjects, aged 3 to 18 years at baseline in 1980. These subjects were reexamined in 2001 at ages 24 to 39 years. In 2001, CRP was measured from fresh samples, and the subjects underwent carotid IMT study to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis. Baseline (1980) CRP concentrations were measured from frozen samples in 2005. A significant tracking was observed between childhood and adult CRP levels. The age- and sex-specific correlations were the highest in the age group of 18 years at baseline (r=0.47 in females, r=0.32 in males, P<0.0001). The association between childhood and adult CRP levels was independent of serum lipids, blood pressure, smoking, obesity indices, and insulin. In multivariate analysis, childhood risk factors that independently associated with increased adult IMT included elevated systolic blood pressure (P<0.0001), high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P=0.01) and smoking (P=0.049), but not CRP (P=0.95).

Conclusions— Childhood CRP values predict weakly but significantly adult CRP, and this association is independent of other metabolic risk factors. Unlike conventional risk factors, however, childhood CRP does not predict adult IMT.

Recent findings have supported the view that inflammation has an integral part in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. In the present study, childhood C-reactive protein (CRP) values predict weakly but significantly adult CRP, and this association is independent of other metabolic risk factors. Unlike conventional risk factors measured in childhood, CRP does not predict adult intima-media thickness.

Key Words: CRP • tracking • childhood

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