Systemic Inflammation after Transradial Coronary Angiogram: Statistically (But Not Clinically) Significant?

Aims: To evaluate if transradial diagnostic coronary angiogram by itself could lead to a systemic inflammation. Methods: In 96 patients with baseline hs-CRP level <5 mg/L, venous samples were obtained the day before the procedure and the day after. Coronary angiogram was performed with 4, 5 or 6 French radial access catheters. Results: Mean hs-CRP at admission was 2.3 mg/L ± 1.4. At day 2, the mean CRP level was 2.7 mg/L±1.9, with a 0.4 mg/L (17%) statistically significant elevation, p<0.0001. No radial access complication (thrombosis or hematoma) occurred. The variation of hs-CRP was positively correlated with age (r=0.20; p=0.04), elevation of creatin kinase (r=0.20; p=0.03) and negatively with amount of contrast (r=0.20; p=0.03). Conclusion: In patients with diagnostic coronary angiogram performed through radial access, there is a statistically significant elevation of the biological inflammatory response, whose clinical significance remains elusive.