C reactive protein levels are increased in non-allergic but not allergic asthma: a multicentre epidemiological study

Abstract
Background: High sensitivity C reactive protein (HsCRP) is an inflammatory marker known to be related to smoking, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. A study was undertaken to determine whether HsCRP is related to respiratory symptoms, asthma, atopy, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in population samples from three countries. Methods: HsCRP was measured in 1289 subjects from three centres in ECRHS II: Reykjavik, Uppsala and Tartu. The HsCRP values ranged from 2.21 mg/l). Results: HsCRP increased with increasing body mass index (r = 0.41; pConclusions: Raised levels of HsCRP are significantly associated with respiratory symptoms and non-allergic asthma but not with allergic asthma.