Correlation between C-Reactive Protein and Lipid Profile in Patients with Heart Disease

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. The number of cardiovascular deaths is higher than cancer deaths and more than any other cause of death ⁽¹⁾. The deaths reach up to 17.9million annually, which is equal to 31% of all deaths ( ²). In Iraq, the mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases is about 33% of all deaths (³). Myocardial infarction is a type of coronary heart disease (CHD), that results from rupture of an arterial sclerosis plaque and a thrombus that works to block the coronary artery, which supply the heart, causing necrosis and death of part of the heart muscle ( ⁴). Internationally, it was reported that at least one American develops myocardial infarction approximately every 40 minutes (¹). In the past, it was based solely on the theory of lipids role in the etiology of atherosclerosis. Currently, inflammation has been stated to play an essential role in developing atherosclerosis. Monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes and smooth muscle cells accumulates release many cytokines or inflammatory biomarkers (⁵) The underlying cause of a heart attack due to MI is atherosclerotic, which is caused by the development of layers of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the arteries (⁶). The development of these deposits leads to narrowing and gradual blockage of blood flow in the artery. It is a long-term disease that progresses slowly (⁷).