Association between C‑reactive protein and carotid plaque in mild‑to‑moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Raw data related to the article Abstract<br> An association between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and carotid plaque has never been investigated in idiopathic pulmonary<br> fibrosis (IPF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of carotid atherosclerosis in mild-to-moderate IPF<br> and to assess its relationship to serum CRP. This observational retrospective case–control study included 60 consecutive<br> IPF patients (73.8 ± 6.6 years, 45 males) and 60 matched controls, examined between Sep 2017 and Jan 2019. All patients<br> underwent CRP assessment and a carotid Doppler ultrasonography. CRP levels were significantly higher in IPF patients than<br> controls (0.2 ± 0.09 mg/dl vs 0.09 ± 0.04 mg/dl, p &lt; 0.0001). A total of 46 plaques were detected, with higher prevalence in<br> IPF patients than controls (38 vs 8, p &lt; 0.0001). On univariate logistic regression the main variables independently associated<br> with carotid plaque were: age (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.16, p = 0.006), hypertension duration (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.09,<br> p = 0.01), diabetes duration (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01–1.18, p = 0.03), LDL-cholesterol (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.10, p &lt; 0.0001)<br> and finally CRP levels (HR 1.73, 95% CI 0.59–5.00, p &lt; 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that<br> LDL-cholesterol (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.08, p = 0.009) and CRP levels (HR 1.43, 95% CI 0.39–5.19, p &lt; 0.0001) retained<br> statistical significance. Common carotid artery-intima media thickness was significantly correlated with CRP levels in IPF<br> patients (r = 0.86). SerumCRP might represent both an early marker and a potential therapeutic target for carotid atherosclerosis<br> in mild-to-moderate IPF.