Dr. Haffner gives a brief overview of the metabolic syndrome and inflammation.

Environmental factors, insulin resistance and inflammation are all thought of as causes of the metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome components include dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, glucose intolerance, obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation. A recent study showed that individuals with the metabolic syndrome were at significantly higher risk of CHD, CVD and total mortality compared to those without the metabolic syndrome (1).

C-reactive protein levels have been found to increase with the number of metabolic disorders (2), and also to predict diabetes (3). CRP levels can be lowered by weight loss or by pharmacological agents including the statin drugs (4) although statin use for CRP lowering is not an FDA-approved indication.

Dr. Haffner concludes his talk with some recommendations for treatment of metabolic syndrome patients.

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After viewing this presentation the participant will be able to discuss:

-The risk of heart disease in metabolic syndrome patients
-How CRP levels track with the number of metabolic disorders
-Approaches to therapy for the metabolic syndrome

1. Kelly J. Hunt, PhD; Roy G. Resendez, MA; Ken Williams, MS; Steve M. Haffner, MD; Michael P. Stern, MD.National Cholesterol Education Program Versus World Health Organization Metabolic Syndrome in Relation to All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in the San Antonio Heart Study Circulation. 2004;110:1251-1257.

2. Andreas Festa, MD; Ralph D’Agostino, Jr, PhD; George Howard, DrPH; Leena Mykkänen, MD, PhD; Russell P. Tracy, PhD; Steven M. Haffner, MD.Chronic Subclinical Inflammation as Part of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome: The Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS) Circulation. 2000;102:42.

3. Andreas Festa, Ralph D’Agostino, Jr, Russell P. Tracy, and Steven M. Haffner.Elevated Levels of Acute-Phase Proteins and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Predict the Development of Type 2 Diabetes: The Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study Diabetes. 2002;51:1131-1137.

4. I. Jialal, MD, PhD; D. Stein, MD; D. Balis, MD; S. M. Grundy, MD, PhD; B. Adams-Huet, MS; S. Devaraj, PhD.Effect of Hydroxymethyl Glutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitor Therapy on High Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Levels Circulation. 2001;103:1933.