Seasonal and Inter-day Variation in Serum High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein in Japanese Male Workers: A Longitudinal Study

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Although seasonal variation in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) has been studied cross-sectionally and longitudinally, the results to date have been mixed. Here, to test seasonal variation in this compound with regard to within-subject, inter-day variation, we conducted a longitudinal follow-up study with repeated measurements in Japanese workers with low hsCRP. Blood samples were obtained from four male indoor daytime workers, who were aged 32-57 and commuted to offices in Kawasaki City, on six days within 2-wk windows in February and October, 2008. Serum hsCRP was measured using ultrasensitive latex-enhanced immunonephelometry. Among the subjects with detectable levels of hsCRP, individual median serum hsCRP levels were 38-74% higher in October than in February (p=0.03). This study identified the presence of a seasonal variation in the serum hsCRP level of Japanese workers with low hsCRP levels.