Abstract

Summary

To investigate the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level and the nature and severity of clinical manifestations in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
 

Materials and Methods

A total of 85 patients with CHF hospitalized in the cardiology department were examined. hs-CRP was measured in all patients, who were stratified according to heart failure type, NYHA functional class, and main etiology. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Dunn’s test with Bonferroni correction for post-hoc comparisons.
 

Results

hs-CRP level significantly varied depending on the studied parameters. Concentration progressively increased from isolated left ventricular failure (median 4.8 mg/L) to right ventricular failure (6.7 mg/L), reaching a maximum in total biventricular failure (8.4 mg/L; p=0.008). Post-hoc analysis confirmed a significant difference only between total and isolated left ventricular failure (p<sub>adj</sub><0.001). hs-CRP increased with worsening NYHA class: medians were 4.4, 7.3, and 11.2 mg/L for classes II, III, and IV, respectively (p<0.001), with significant pairwise differences. Systemic inflammation activity also varied by CHF etiology. The highest hs-CRP values were recorded in valvular defects (7.5 mg/L) and dilated cardiomyopathy (5.2 mg/L), whereas hypertensive etiology showed the lowest levels (4.7 mg/L; p=0.03). Post-hoc analysis revealed significant difference only between valvular defects and arterial hypertension (p<sub>adj</sub>=0.03).
 

Conclusion

hs-CRP can serve as an additional laboratory marker for objectifying CHF severity and patient stratification, especially in pronounced congestion.
 

Keywords

chronic heart failure systemic inflammation high-sensitivity C-reactive protein NYHA functional class etiology.

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