High C-reactive protein level is associated with high-risk adenoma

• Main Authors: Hyae Min Lee, Jae Myung Cha, Jung Lok Lee, Jung Won Jeon, Hyun Phil Shin, Kwang Ro Joo, Jin Young Yoon, Joung Il Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases 2017-10-01
• Series: Intestinal Research
• Subjects: Colon; Inflammation; Neoplasms; C-reactive protein; Colonoscopy
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2017.15.4.511

Background/Aims: There is substantial evidence supporting a role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer; however, little is known about the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and the risk of colorectal adenoma. This study was conducted to investigate the association between serum CRP and colorectal adenoma risk.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on first-time screening colonoscopies in asymptomatic subjects who also had their serum CRP level measured during a routine health check-up between September 2006 and September 2009 in Korea. Serum CRP level was compared between high-risk and low-risk adenoma groups and independent predictors of high-risk adenoma were analyzed using multivariate regression analysis.Results: Among the 3,309 eligible patients, the high-risk adenoma group had higher serum CRP levels than the low-risk adenoma group (P=0.000). In addition, patients with a high-risk adenoma were more frequently included in the high CRP group than in the low CRP group (8.6% vs. 4.0%, P<0.001). The prevalence of high-risk adenoma was 3.5 times higher in the highest quartile of CRP level (P=0.000) compared with that in the lowest quartile. In logistic regression analysis, a higher quartile CRP level was found to be an independent risk factor for high-risk adenoma (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–2.5; P=0.000).Conclusions: High CRP level is associated with high-risk adenoma in both men and women. Our data may support the association between chronic inflammation and colorectal neoplasia, which warrants further investigation.