High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein and Serum Uric Acid are Predictors of Incident Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of interrelated metabolic risk factors that appear to promote the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). MetS may be a systemic manifestation of adipose tissue inflammation with ectopic lipid accumulation in the liver and skeletal muscle which is related to many other complex pathophysiological mechanisms including insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. In this review, longitudinal associations between baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as well as serum uric acid, both of which are known to be associated with MetS from cross-sectional studies, and incidence of MetS are discussed. In conclusion, hs-CRP and uric acid are significant predictors of incident MetS. However, hs-CRP should be evaluated two or more times at baseline because the level of hs-CRP widely fluctuates then. Our findings suggest that hypouricemic agents may be useful for reducing risk of MetS and CVD in patients with hyperuricemia.