Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Short-Term Aspirin Use on C-Reactive Protein

  • Published:
Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen, have been shown to be predictive of cardiovascular disease. In the Physicians Health Study, the magnitude of reduction in the risk of myocardial infarction with aspirin therapy was related to baseline CRP levels, raising the possibility that the protective effect of aspirin may be due to antiinflammatory properties in addition to its antiplatelet effect. We therefore investigated whether aspirin therapy lowers CRP levels. Because heavy physical exertion is a well-known trigger of myocardial infarction, we also investigated the effect of aspirin on CRP levels before and after strenuous exercise. Thirty-two healthy men, aged 29 ± 6 years, were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, parallel study. Blood samples were obtained immediately before and after maximal treadmill exercise at baseline and following 7 days of aspirin therapy (81 or 325 mg). The levels of CRP, as measured by ELISA, increased by 13% following exercise (P < 0.0001). However, aspirin did not significantly alter CRP levels, either at rest (0.81 ± 0.13 mg/L before aspirin vs. 0.78 ± 0.13 mg/L on aspirin) or following exercise (0.92 ± 0.13 mg/L before aspirin vs. 0.86 ± 0.13 mg/L on aspirin), P = 0.73. When the resting and postexercise data were combined, the levels were 0.87 ± 0.13 mg/L before aspirin and 0.82 ± 0.13 mg/L on aspirin (a nonsignificant 6% reduction, P = 0.20). In conclusion, in healthy male subjects CRP levels were not significantly reduced by short-term aspirin therapy. Our data, taking together with other reports, suggest that aspirin may not affect the levels of inflammatory markers. However, further studies are needed with a longer duration of therapy, among subjects with coronary heart disease, and using additional markers of inflammation besides CRP to determine the long-term effects of aspirin use.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Berk BC, Weintraub WS, Alexander RW. Elevation of C-reactive protein in “active” coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol 1990;65:168–172.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ridker PM, Cushman M, Stampfer MJ, Tracy RP, Hennekens CH. Inflammation, aspirin, and the risk of cardiovascular disease in apparently healthy men. N Engl J Med 1997;336:973–979.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Thompson SG, Kienast J, Pyke SD, Haverkate F, van de Loo JC. Hemostatic factors and the risk of myocardial infarction or sudden death in patients with angina pectoris. European Concerted Action on Thrombosis and Disabilities Angina Pectoris Study Group. N Engl J Med 1995;332:635–641.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Liuzzo G, Biasucci LM, Gallimore JR, et al. The prognostic value of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid a protein in severe unstable angina. N Engl J Med 1994;331:417–424.

    Google Scholar 

  5. McEroy GK. Salicylates general statement: Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agent. In: McEroy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information 95. Bethesda, MD. The American Society of Health System Pharmacists, 1995:1273–1285.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Eap CB, Baumann P. The a1-acid glycoprotein: Structure and possible functions in the acute phase response. In: Andrzej Mackiewicz, ed. Acute Phase Proteins. Boca Patour FLI CRC Press, 1993:107–115.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mittleman MA, Maclure M, Tofler GH, Sherwood JB, Goldberg RJ, Mulle, JE. Triggering of acute myocardial infarction by heavy physical exertion. Protection against triggering by regular exertion. Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study Investigators. N Engl J Med 1993;329:1677–1683.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Feng D, McKenna C, Murillo J, et al. Effect of aspirin dosage and enteric coating on platelet reactivity. Am J Cardiol 1997;80:189–193.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Macy EM, Hayes TE, Tracy RP. Variability in the measurement of C-reactive protein in healthy subjects: Implications for reference intervals and epidemiological applications. Clin Chem 1997;43:52–58.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fox E, Kuo J, Tilling L, Ulrich C. Comparing repeated measurements of the same individuals. In: The SigmaStat Statistical Software User's Manual. San Rafael, CA: Jandel Scientific, 1997:48–75.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Richardson PD, Davies MJ, Born GV. Influence of plaque configuration and stress distribution on fissuring of coronary atherosclerotic plaques. Lancet 1989;2:941–944.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lendon CL, Davies MJ, Born GV, Richardson PD. Atherosclerotic plaque caps are locally weakened when macrophages density is increased. Atherosclerosis 1991;87: 87–90.

    Google Scholar 

  13. van der Wal AC, Becker AE, van der Loos CM, Das PK. Site of intimal rupture or erosion of thrombosed coronary atherosclerotic plaques is characterized by an inflammatory process irrespective of the dominant plaque morphology. Circulation 1994;89:36–44.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Moreno PR, Falk E, Palacios IF, Newell JB, Fuster V, Fallon JT. Macrophage infiltration in acute coronary syndromes. Implications for plaque rupture. Circulation 1994;90: 775–778.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Welgus HG, Campbell EJ, Cury JD, et al. Neutral metalloproteinases produced by human mononuclear phagocytes. Enzyme profile, regulation, and expression during cellular development. J Clin Invest 1990;86:1496–1502.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Henney AM, Wakeley PR, Davies MJ, et al. Localization of stromelysin gene expression in atherosclerotic plaques by in situ hybridization. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1991;88: 8154–8158.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Marinkovic S, Jahreis GP, Wong GG, Baumann H. IL-6 modulates the synthesis of a specific set of acute phase plasma proteins in vivo. J Immunol 1989;142:808–812.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Moshage HJ, Roelofs HM, van Pelt JF, et al. The effect of interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and its interrelationship on the synthesis of serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein in primary cultures of adult human hepatocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1988;155:112–117.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lewis HD, Jr., Davis JW, Archibald DG, et al. Protective effects of aspirin against acute myocardial infarction and death in men with unstable angina. Results of a Veterans Administration Cooperative Study. N Engl J Med 1983; 309:396–403.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ridker PM, Manson JE, Gaziano JM, Buring JE, Hennekens CH. Low-dose aspirin therapy for chronic stable angina. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ann Intern Med 1991;114:835–839.

    Google Scholar 

  21. McConkey B, Crockson RA, Crockson AP, Wilkinson AR. The effects of some anti-inflammatory drugs on the acutephase proteins in rheumatoid arthritis. Q J Med 1973;42:785–791.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Aylward M, Maddock J, Wheeldon R, Parker RJ. A study of the influence of various antirheumatic drug regimens on serum acute-phase proteins, plasma tryptophan, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheuma Rehab 1975;14:101–114.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Prichard PJ, Poniatowska TJ, Willars JE, Ravenscroft AT, Hawkey CJ. Effect in man of aspirin, standard indomethacin, and sustained release indomethacin preparations on gastric bleeding. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1988;26: 167–172.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Krusius T, Hirvonen M, Vahtera E, Kala R. Short-term aspirin treatment does not reduce plasma fibrinogen concentration in young healthy adults. Thromb Res 1994;75: 653–656.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hind CR, Savage CO, Winearls CG, Pepys MB. Objective monitoring of disease activity in polyarteritis by measurement of serum C reactive protein concentration. Br Med J Clin Res 1984;288:1027–1030.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Serhan CN. Lipoxins and novel aspirin-triggered 15-epilipoxins (ATL): A jungle of cell-cell interactions or a therapeutic opportunity. Prostaglandins 1997;53:107–137.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Taylor C, Rogers G, Goodman C, et al. Hematologic, iron-related, and acute-phase protein responses to sustained strenuous exercise. J App Physiol 1987;62:464–469.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Weight LM, Alexander D, Jacobs P. Strenuous exercise: Analogous to the acute-phase response? Clin Sci 1991;81: 677–683.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Finkel A, Cumming GR. Effects of exercise in the cold on blood clotting and platelets. J Appl Physiol 1965;20:423–424.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Statland BE, Winkel P, Bokelund H. Factors contributing to intra-individual variation of serum constituents. 2. Effects of exercise and diet on variation of serum constituents in healthy subjects. Clin Chem 1973;19:1380–1383.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Zeller JM, Landay AL, Lint TF, Gewurz H. Enhancement of human peripheral blood monocyte respiratory burst activity by aggregated C-reactive protein. J Leukocyte Biol 1986; 40:769–783.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Potempa LA, Zeller JM, Fiedel BA, Kinoshita CM, Gewurz H. Stimulation of human neutrophils, monocytes, and platelets by modified C-reactive protein (CRP) expressing a neoantigenic specificity. Inflammation 1988;12:391–405.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Steel DM, Whitehead AS. The major acute phase reactants: C-reactive protein, serum amyloid P component and serum amyloid A protein. Immunol Today 1994;15:81–88.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Cermak J, Key N, Bach R, Balla J, Vercelloti G. C-reactive protein induces human peripheral blood monocytes to synthesize tissue factor. Blood 1993;82:513–520.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

    DaLi Feng, Izabella Lipinska, Jaime Murillo, Carol McKenna & Geoffrey H. Tofler

  2. Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research, University of Vermont, Colchester, Vermont, USA

    Russell P. Tracy

Authors
  1. DaLi Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Russell P. Tracy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Izabella Lipinska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jaime Murillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carol McKenna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Geoffrey H. Tofler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Feng, D., Tracy, R.P., Lipinska, I. et al. Effect of Short-Term Aspirin Use on C-Reactive Protein. J Thromb Thrombolysis 9, 37–41 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018644212794

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018644212794

Search

Navigation