European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: A stroke or Cerebrovascular accident is defined as an abrupt onset of neurologic deficit that is attributable to a focal vascular cause. Infections and inflammation play a vital role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Objective: To estimate and correlate levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This Observational Case-Control Study was conducted in the Government Medical College, Nagpur in Central India. The duration of the study was 2years. 51 patients who were diagnosed with the First ischemic stroke were included in the study. Results: The mean HsCRP of the cases was 4.2±1.4 years and the mean HsCRP of the controls was 1.6±1.2 years. There was statistically significant difference. The patients who survived had NIHSS score 16±3.0 on admission and 12±3.0 on discharge. The patients who did not survive had NIHSS score 30±1.5 on admission.The size of the infarct was found to be increasing with the increase in hsCRP levels. Te size of the infarct was like, 1.92 cm² in hsCRP<3; 18.55 cm² in hsCRP 3-8; 24.60 cm² in hsCRP 9-14; 36.54 cm² in hsCRP 15-20 and 51.25 cm² in hsCRP>20. Conclusions: HsCRP levels are independent risk factor in Acute Ischaemic Stroke patients without infection, as well as for in-hospital mortality. Also, higher level of serum HsCRP is associated with increased neurological deficit assessed by NIHSS and poor outcome.