Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is involved in inflammatory pathways that are associated with the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as well as an increased risk of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This research aimed to evaluate the potential association of the genetic variants -717T>C, 1444G>A, and 1846 C > T of CRP gene on CRP levels, ACS, and T2DM in participants from Western Mexico. Methods: Six hundred three participants were studied: (1) control group (CG); (2) ACS participants classified as unstable angina (UA), myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation (NSTEMI), and myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI); (3) T2DM Participants; and (4) ACS plus T2DM participants (ACS+T2DM). Genetic variants were genotyped using allelic discrimination with TaqMan® probes, and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) was measured by Turbidimetry. Results: TAC haplotype frequency was significantly higher in ACS+T2DM versus CG and versus ACS participants (odds ratio [OR] = 2.774, P = 0.017 and OR = 3.479, P = 0.020, respectively). hs-CRP levels were especially higher for ACS and for ACS+T2DM participants with respect to CG and T2DM (with P < 0.0001). We observed higher hs-CRP levels in NSTEMI and STEMI versus UA in ACS scenario (P = 0.001, P = 0.027, respectively) and for ACS+T2DM scenario (P = 0.0001, P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: hs-CRP level fluctuations are related to the presence of T2DM and the presence and severity of ACS. Very high levels (>10 mg/L) are a risk marker of cardiovascular complications. Our results demonstrate a possible relationship between TAC haplotype and an increased risk for T2DM and ACS.
Keywords: CRP SNP; acute coronary syndrome; cardiovascular risk; haplotype; high-sensitivity CRP; type 2 diabetes mellitus.