Background: An excessive inflammatory reaction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is known to be harmful. New anti-inflammatory therapies are required.
Purpose: This study assessed the predictive role of early CRP in patients with STEMI.
Methods: A total of 1003 patients with STEMI were analysed. A total of 180 patients with proven infection were excluded. CRP after 12, 24 and 48 h after pain onset were evaluated.
Results: Of 823 patients, 103 (12.5%) died within one year after AMI. The deceased patients showed higher CRP, even after already 12 h (6 vs. 13 mg/l, p < .001), 24 h (13 vs. 25 mg/l, p < .001) and after 48 h (40 vs. 92 mg/l, p < .001). A CRP of ≥8 mg/l, 12 h after AMI, was found in 45% and was independently associated with long-term mortality (OR: 2.7, p = .03), after 24 h: CRP ≥ 18 mg/l in 44% (OR: 2.5, p = .03), after 48 h: CRP ≥ 53 mg/l in 44% (OR 1.9, p = .03). Early CRP values correlated strongly with the later maximum value of CRP (p < .001).
Conclusions: Already early CRP values are accurate for risk-prediction following AMI. By identifying patients who are beginning to develop an excessive inflammatory response, it may be possible to identify those who benefit from anti-inflammatory therapies.
Keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; C-reactive protein (CRP); heart failure: inflammation; remodelling.