BACKGROUNDThe role of plasma high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains controversial. We investigated plasma hs-CRP level at both admission and follow-up in patients with stable angina (SA) after successful coronary stenting in order to clarify the predictive value of hs-CRP for ISR.

METHODSWe summarized 303 consecutive chronic SA patients with coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. The ISR was analyzed by quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) at a mean follow-up of 8 months, and the patients were divided into two groups according to the detected ISR as ISR group (n = 48) and non-ISR group (n = 255). Plasma hs-CRP was examined at both admission and 8-month follow-up in all patients, standard medication continued throughout the investigation period.

RESULTSQCA presented that 48 patients (15.8%) suffered from ISR at follow-up. The basic clinical characteristics were similar between the two groups, while plasma hs-CRP was higher in ISR group than that in non-ISR group at both admission and follow-up, P < 0.001 respectively. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that plasma hs-CRP level at either admission or follow-up could independently predict ISR occurrence (OR = 5.581, 95%CI 2.532-12.302, P < 0.001 and OR = 6.299, 95%CI 2.722-14.577, P < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSOur data indicate that plasma hs-CRP level may independently predict ISR at both admission and follow-up in SA patients with coronary DES implantation, which implies that a chronic, sustained systemic inflammatory response might be involved in ISR pathogenesis.