Abstract

Background Gastritis is an important premalignant lesion and recent studies suggested a production of inflammatory cytokine-like C-reactive protein during gastritis. This study aimed to determine any relationship between high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and inflammation activity among patients with gastritis. Methods Demographic and clinical variables of participants were collected by a validated questionnaire. Using histology of the gastric mucosa, Helicobacter pylori status was investigated and serum concentrations of hs-CRP were measured among dyspeptic patients. Correlation between hs-CRP serum levels and inflammation activities was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. The relation between active inflammation and other variables was evaluated by logic link function model. Results Totally 239 patients (56.6 female) were analysed. The prevalence of mild, moderate and severe inflammation activities was 66.5, 23.8 and 9.6 respectively. Mean +/- SD of hs-CRP among men and women were 2.85 +/- 2.84mg/dl and 2.80 +/- 4.80mg/dl (p=0.047) respectively. Mean +/- SD of hs-CRP among patients with H. pylori infection, gland atrophy, metaplasia and dysplasia were 2.83 +/- 3.80mg/dl, 3.52 +/- 5.1mg/dl, 2.22 +/- 2.3mg/dl and 5.3 +/- 5.04mg/dl respectively. Relationship between hs-CRP and inflammation activities (p<0.01) was significant. A significant relationship between dysplasia and hs-CRP (p<0.04) was revealed. A significant relationship between age and hs-CRP was detected (p<0.05). Conclusion Although serum hs-CRP is not a specific biomarker for gastritis, elevated hs-CRP levels may be considered as a predictive marker of changes in gastric mucosa and a promising therapeutic target for patients with gastritis.