ASSOCIATION OF MENOPAUSE WITH INFLAMMATION SENSITIVE PROTEIN THE C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AMONG THE INDIAN WOMEN

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. Suguna S.,
A-401, Gopalan Jewels,
Doddakallasandra,
Kanakapura Main Road,
Konankunte Cross, Bangalore – 68.
Email- drsugunas@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The changes during menopause are associated with cardiovascular risk factors.Since inflammation is believed to have a role inthe pathogenesis of cardiovascular events, measurement of markersof inflammation like high sensitivity C - reactive protein hsCRP has been proposed as a method to improve theprediction of the risk of these events.AIMS:The aim of the study was to look at the association of menopause with the inflammatory marker hsCRP, in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular events in urban south Indian menopausal women.SETTING & DESIGN: 30 pre-menopausal women as a control & 30 post-menopausal women as a subject were, taken from the Medicine OPD, Medical camps, and staff from Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Medical College Hospital and employees from HMT watch factory.Inclusion criteria: Normal healthy women & women who had undergone surgical menopause.Exclusion criteria: women with a history of chronic infections like liver disease, rheumatoid disease, jaundice, women on oral contraceptives and hormone therapy.Ethical approval was obtained, subjects were briefed about the study protocol andtests, and a written consent was taken.METHODS AND MATERIAL: Anthropometry measurements (Height, Weight, Waist/Hip ratio (WHR), BodyMass index (BMI)), CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS: Systolic blood pressure (SBP)and Diastolic blood pressure (DBP), & BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS: Hemoglobin (Hbgm. %), Total Leucocyte Count (TLC), Differential Count (DC), hsCRP was estimated and comparedfor 30 premenopausal women &30 postmenopausal women.STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square and Fisher exact test, Student t test done usingSPSS 11.0 and Systat 8.0, Excel used to generate graphs, tables.RESULTS:Mean ±SD (0.68±1.32mg/L) of hsCRP in post-menopausal women was double the Mean± SD (0.34±0.85mg/L) of hsCRP in pre-menopausal women. The post-menopausal women had an elevated hsCRP (>1mg/L) compared to the premenopausal women but not statistically significant.CONCLUSION:hsCRP isincreased in post-menopausal women indicating a possiblygreatercardiovascular risk.

KEY WORDS:Menopause, Premenopausal women, Postmenopausal women, C-reactive protein, hsCRP, cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory marker.

MeSH TERMS:Menopause, C-reactive protein, hsCRP, cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory marker.