Objective: C-reactive protein, a well known marker of inflammation is being investigated as a probable marker of predicting acute cardiovascular events and its severity. The aim of the present study was to assess the possible role of highly-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in predicting short-term functional outcome of ischemic stroke.
Methodology: A prospective study was conducted on subjects admitted with first attack of confirmed ischemic stroke. It included 50 male and 52 female. Serum hs-CRP was measured in the 2(nd) (CRP-D2) and 5(th) days (CRP-D5) post-stroke. Modified Rankin scale (MRS) was measured in all subjects in the 2(nd) (MRS-D2), 5(th) days (MRS-D5) and also 3 month (MRS-M3) after stroke to assess the short-term functional outcome and mortality of subjects.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 71.75±11.44 years. The mortality rate was 47.1% in the third months after stroke. There was no significant correlation between CRP-D2 and MRS-M3 and also between CRP-D5 and MRS-M3 (P>0.05). However there was a significant association between high CRP-D2 (CRP>3) and MRS-M3 and also between high CRP-D5 and MRS-M3 (P<0.005).
Conclusion: This study showed that the value of CRP by itself could not predict the severity of short-term functional disability and it might not be useful as a clinical tool for predicting outcome.
Keywords: Atherosclerosis; C-reactive protein; Functional outcome; Inflammation; Ischemic stroke; Modified Rankin scale.