Serum C-reactive protein as a possible marker to predict delayed hemorrhage after colonoscopic polypectomy

Background

Colonscopic polypectomy is an effective approach for the treatment of colorectal polypoid lesions. Resection of potential malignant adenomas reduced the risk and incidence of colon cancer. However, colonscopic polypectomy is not without complications and the most frequent being post-polypectomy hemorrhage. A 1–3% incidence rate of hemorrhage after colonoscopy polypectomy is considered as reasonable [1–3], while a higher incidence of 3–10% is known to occur following endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection [4–6]. The occurrence of hemorrhage is most common during and immediately after the procedure though it is unlikely to cause significant clinical consequences if the patients are closely monitored. But, in an occasional instance, hemorrhage could occur several days after polypectomy that can be potentially serious and sometimes even life threatening. Delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage is defined as hemorrhage occurring 24 hours after the colonscopic treatment that occurs in approximately 2% of all patients [7,8]. Several risk factors of delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage have been identified that include: polyps-related factors such as large size and sessile form, and patients-related factors such as hypertension [7–9]. However, there is no definitive and convenient laboratory test that could be used to predict risk of delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) that is a sensitive biomarker for bacterial infection, inflammation, infarction and injury to predict the occurrence of delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage.

Material and Methods

PATIENTS:

We performed a case-control study of 302 patients who underwent colonoscopic polypectomy from January 2004 to November 2009. Detailed medical records were reviewed, including size and location of polyps removed, macroscopic type of polyps, histopathological findings, resection methods, presence or absence of delayed hemorrhage and clinical characteristics of patients. Written consent was taken from each patient according to the Ethics Committee of School of medicine, Zhejiang University.

The following exclusion criteria were used in our study: (1) hemorrhagic disorders, a recent history of taking anticoagulants or anti-platelet drugs, or abnormal result of coagulation tests (platelet count less than 100,000/mL or prothrombin time longer than 12 second, within 2 weeks prior to colonoscopy). (2) Presence of recent surgery, trauma, febrile disorders, acute or chronic inflammatory disease, autoimmune diseases, or a prior myocardial infarction (MI) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). (3) Presence of polyposis syndrome. Furthermore, patients older than 60 years or those with known heart disease were advised to have made electrocardiographic examination (ECG) before treatment and were continuously monitored while undergoing treatment. Long term users of anticoagulants or anti-platelet drugs were asked to stop these medications for 1 week prior to polypectomy. Patients with hypertension were included in the study only if blood pressure is below 140/90mmHg prior to treatment.

FOLLOW-UP AND DIETARY ADVISE:

All patients were kept under close observation for 4 hours immediately after colonoscopic polypectomy in the event of immediate bleeding and were followed-up for the next 14 days by telephone contact. Follow-up for a period of 2 weeks from the day of polypectomy was achieved of all patients included in the study. Delayed postpolypectomy bleeding was defined as occurrence of tarry stool and/or bleeding during the follow-up period. All patients with tarry stool and/or bleeding should go through a second colonoscopy to confirm the reason and location of hemorrhage.

All patients who underwent colonoscopic polypectomy were advised to follow strict diet control that included absolute abstain from alcohol and avoidance of food rich in protein or fat for 2 weeks. In addition, these patients were also advised to avoid intense physical activity and long-distance travel.

COLON PREPARATION AND POLYPECTOMY METHODS:

Colon preparation was conducted using polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution. Three resection approaches were used according to the size and macroscopic appearance of polyps. Polyps that were less than 0.5 cm were removed using hot biopsy; protruding polyps of less than 2.5 cm in size were resected by snare polypectomy; broad-based polyps that were less than 2 cm and IIc lesions (slightly depressed without ulcer) were treated by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) methods; pedicled polyps which were larger than 2.5 cm were resected by snare polypectomy [9–11]. The treatment for sessile polyps larger than 2.5 cm were determined according to the mucosal pit pattern classification. EMR was chosen if canceration was excluded, otherwise we would choose ESD for polyps with cancerous tendency pit pattern. Additional surgery was employed if endoscopic treatment failed.

All colonoscopic polypectomies were performed by one experienced endoscopist. The nurses all had standard training and did the snare following close instructions of the endoscopist. To reduce current of injury as much as possible, conduction time was regulated for different types of polyps.

DEFINITIONS OF POLYP-ASSOCIATED AND PATIENT-ASSOCIATED FACTORS:

The polyp size was determined by comparing to open forceps (5 mm) before polypectomy. The macroscopic type was classified based on the criteria of the Paris endoscopic classification of superficial neoplastic lesions [12]. Hypertension was defined as systolic/diastolic blood pressure of ≥140/90 mmHg (according to the criteria of The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) [13]; those who smoke daily for over 6 months were defined as smokers according to WHO suggestions for standard smoking investigation methods, and alcohol consumption was considered to be present when the subject consumed 5 or more drinks per week as previously described.

CRP ASSAY:

Three milliliter peripheral blood was drawn to detect CRP level for each patient 24 hours after colonoscopic polypectomy. The normal reference range for the assay is <10.0 mg/L. We monitored CRP level of patients with delayed post-polypectomy bleeding or elevated CRP value (CRP ≥10mg/L) once in every 1~3 days until bleeding was controlled or CRP value returned to normal. Serum CRP level was determined using immunoturbidimetry method with an automatic biochemical analyzer (OLYMPUS AU5400, JAPAN).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 16.0 software for Windows XP system. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Independent Sample T-test was performed to analyze quantitative data and qualitative data was analyzed by Chi square test. Logistic regression including variables with P-value less than 0.05. The variables in this study were: age, sex, smoking, alcohol, hypertension disease, size, type and location of polyps and CRP level. Confidence intervals (CIs) were set for the 95% level and statistical significance was indicated if P value was less than 0.05.

Results

BASELINE CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS AND POLYPS IN THE STUDY:

302 patients with lesions were included in the study, averaging 56±13 years old; of all the patients, 181 (59.9%) were male, 59 (19.5%) were smokers and 40 (13.2%) were alcohol consumers; 47 (15.6%) have arterial hypertension (AHT), the average CRP level is 7.18±8.12 mg/L.

All the 302 Patients received endoscopic treatment. Of all, 258 were having adenoma, while 32 had hyperplastic polyps, 7 juvenile polyps and 5 colorectal cancer (Table 1).

Of all 302 patients studied, CRP was raised in 46 (15.2%). Delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage occurred in 10 (3.3%) and their CRP level ranged from 14.8 mg/L to 64.0 mg/L with an average of 32.50±17.34 mg/L.

RISK FACTORS FOR DELAYED POST-POLYPECTOMY BLEEDING:

Patients with hemorrhage had significantly higher levels of CRP value (32.50±17.34mg/L vs. 6.32±6.02 mg/L; P<0.05), compared with the non- hemorrhage group. It was also observed that a higher incidence of hypertension in those who had post-polypectomy hemorrhage compared with those who did not have hemorrhage (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to age, gender, smoking, alcohol consuming, size, type and location of polyps (Table 2).

Logistic regression analysis showed that raised CRP value is a significant risk factor that predicts the development of post-resection hemorrhage with an odds ratio of 1.329(95% CI, 1.125–1.571) (P<0.001, Table 3). Presence of hypertension was not significant in the logistic regression analysis.

DYNAMIC MONITORING OF CRP LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH ELEVATED CRP VALUES:

In order to know dynamic relationship between serum CRP levels and development of post-polypectomy hemorrhage, we monitored serum CRP levels in 46 cases with elevated CRP values (CRP ≥10 mg/L) once in every 1~3 days. It was noted that serum CRP values began to increase on the first day of treatment and returned to normal within 2~13 days (average 4±2 days).

While comparing patients with elevated CRP values, we noted that CRP levels were higher in hemorrhage group than in non-hemorrhage (32.50±17.34 mg/L vs. 18.72±7.62 mg/L, P<0.05, Table 4), and it took more time for CRP levels returning to normal in those with post-polypectomy hemorrhage than those without hemorrhange (6±3 days vs. 4±2 days, P<0.05, Table 4). It was noted that serum CRP levels returned to normal even in those who had post-polypectomy hemorrhage once the hemorrhage ceased.

TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH ELEVATED CRP LEVEL:

There were 10 patients who had late-phase delayed bleeding, the details of which are given in Table 5. Post-polypectomy hemorrhage was seen within two weeks of therapy. In all patients, hemorrhages could be controlled in time without any complications. In all these patients with or without hemorrhage CRP decreased to normal within two weeks.

Discussion

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant synthesized by liver that has a regulatory role on other inflammatory markers such as IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, is one kind of sensitive marker of inflammation and tissue injury [14–17]. CRP is considered as a valuable predictor of occurrence and prognosis of myocardial infarction (MI), acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and other cardiovascular diseases [18–20]. Recent studies revealed that CRP has a role in the pathobiology of thrombosis and may module the behavior of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). In vitro experiments revealed that CRP inhibited vasodilatation by attenuating the release of endothelial nitric oxide (eNO) [21,22]; Verma S et al. observed that human recombinant CRP directly inhibited EPC differentiation, survival, and function, key components of angiogenesis. Thus, those with chronic ischemia with elevated levels of CRP may have compromised eNO production and attenuated proliferation of EPC that may impedes healing process [22]. This is supported by the observation that mice with elevated levels of CRP showed a significantly faster and higher rate of arterial thrombosis [23]. Furthermore, volunteers receiving recombinant human CRP (rh-CRP) showed inappropriately activated coagulation system [24].

Mechanism(s) of delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage is not known. There are no reliable indicators to predict the occurrence of delayed hemorrhage. Although location and size of polyps were regarded to be risk indicators for delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage [7,8], while our data didn’t show significant relationship between location or size of polyps and post-polypectomy hemorrhage. The results of the present study revealed that those with significantly elevated plasma CRP levels had delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage compared to those without delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage. Logistic regression analysis showed that CRP value was a significant risk factor with a high predictive value with an odds ratio of 1.329 (95% CI, 1.125–1.571) (P<0.001). Hence, we regard elevated CRP values within 24 hrs after polypectomy is a reliable indicator and predictor of delayed post-polypectomy hemorrhage.

Conclusions

Based on the results of the present study, we propose that CRP is synthesized by the liver in response to vascular injury caused by polypectomy and a high CRP level 24 hours after treatment may suggest that vascular injury is incompletely repaired with potential risk of hemorrhage.

Hence, it is suggested that serum CRP level could be used as a surveillance marker to predict hemorrhage after colonoscopic treatment.