COMPARISON OF SERUM LEVELS OF CRP AND URIC ACID IN ACTIVE, PASSIVE, AND NON-SMOKERS

AbstractINTRODUCTION: Some studies have shown that C-reactive protein (CRP) and uricacid may have a role in development of coronary artery disease (CAD); the role cigarettesmoking plays in CAD through various mechanisms has also been demonstrated. Hence,the question is raised: does cigarette smoking exert its atherogenic effect throughincreasing CRP and uric acid levels in the serum? The first step in responding to thisquestion would be to study the relationship between cigarette smoking, CAD, CRP anduric acid levels. As cigarette smoking is highly prevalent in Iran, the present study wasconducted to compare mean serum levels of CRP and uric acid in ۳ groups of activesmokers, passive smokers, and non-smokers, to determine any possible associationbetween cigarette smoking and serum CRP and uric acid levels.METHODS: The study involved ۱۷۷ men aged ۲۰-۴۰ years in ۳ groups of activesmokers, passive smokers, and non-smokers (۵۹ individuals in each group). In addition,fasting blood samples were taken from all subjects to measure serum levels of CRPserologically and uric acid photometrically (using ELAN ۲۰۰۰). Questionnaires onanthropometrics, personal information, disease history, drug use and other relatedsubjects were completed for all the subjects.RESULTS: Mean serum CRP levels were ۵.۴