Background/aims: Recent studies implicated inflammation playing an important role in the occurrence and advancement of colorectal cancer. Colorectal adenoma as the representative precursor lesion of colorectal cancer has meaningful association with inflammation. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the risk of colorectal adenoma.
Methods: This study was undertaken on 5,487 subjects (3,478 men and 2,009 women) who underwent colonoscopy at the Health Promotion Center in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and Samsung Medical Center. The subjects were allocated into 3,505 normal control subjects and 1,982 patients with colorectal adenoma. The mean level of CRP was compared between the two groups, and the correlations with other variables were analyzed by multiple regression analysis. Also, the risk of colorectal adenoma according to CRP level and difference of CRP level according to the characteristics of adenomas were analyzed.
Results: There was no significant difference in serum CRP level between normal and colorectal adenoma group. After adjusting for the clinically significant variables of colorectal adenoma, multiple logistic regression analysis of the risk of colorectal adenoma according to the CRP level (<1, 1-3, >3) and the CRP level according to characteristics of adenomas showed no significant difference.
Conclusions: An inflammatory marker, CRP is not a risk factor for colorectal adenoma development.