The correlation between changes of C-reactive protein (CRP) level and size of infarct in stroke

• Main Authors: Shahram Aboutalebi, Fahimeh Ahmadi, Raha Pazoki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bushehr University of Medical Sciences 2006-09-01
• Series: Iranian South Medical Journal
• Subjects: acute stroke; C - reactive protein; inflammation; lacunar infarct
• Online Access: http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-3-42&slc_lang=en&sid=1

Background: The presence of C-reactive protein (CRP) during different stages of stroke had been shown in several studies. There is still no definite document about the correlation of CRP level and size of infarct in stroke. We studied the correlation of the acute level of CRP with size of infarct in stroke. Methods: A total of 90 consecutive patients with acute stroke admitted in Fatemeh Zahra University Hospital in Bushehr city were studied. Levels of CRP were measured at admission time and 48 hours later. Sizes of infarct and types of stroke were determined with Computerized Tomography scanning. The excluded patients were those with infection, stroke in brain stem, a delay more than 24 hours after attack of stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks. CRP level was measured quantitatively using ELISA method. Results: No correlation between the first CRP levels and variables of age, size of infarct and type of stroke was detected. Size of infarct was correlated with the second CRP (r=0.41, P<0.001) and the difference in CRP levels (r=0.45, P<0.001). The CRP difference was significant in ischemic, hemorrhagic and territory infarcts (P<0.01). But there was no difference between the first and the second CRP in lacunar infarcts. Conclusion: We found no correlation between the CRP levels of the 24 first hours after acute stroke with size of infarct in stroke. But the increase of CRP levels which were measured in 48 hours after the stroke had correlation with size of infarct irrespective of types of stroke. More studies could reveal the cause and effect of CRP in size of infarct in stroke.