Quantitative correlations of serum C-reactive protein levels with severity and outcome in cerebral infarction

Objective To study the quantitative correlations of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with severity and outcome in ischemic stroke. Methods The C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined at admission (CRP1) and 1 week after admission (CRP1) in 90 pateints with cerebral infarction within 2 weeks after symptom onset. According to the value of CRP1 the patients were divided into Group A CRP1 ≤ 2.00 mg/L; Group B 2.00 mg/L CRP1≤ 9.50 mg/L and Group C CRP1 9.50 mg/L. The deficiency intensity of neurofunction were evaluated at admission (NIHSS1 and BI1, n = 90) and following up 3 months after admission (NIHSS2 and BI2, n = 58). Results The severity of neurofunction deficiency was significantly and quantitatively correlated with the levels of CRP in patients at admission and 3 months after admission (P ≤ 0.001). The median value of NIHSS1 and BI2 were 5.00 and 100.00 when CRP1≤ 2.00 mg/L; 7.00 and 85.00 when 2.00 mg/L CRP1≤ 9.50 mg/L; 13.00 and 47.50 when CRP 9.50 mg/L respectively. But there was no significant difference in serum CRP2 levels between that at admission and 3 months after admission (P 0.05). Conclusion The severity of illness and prognosis might be evaluated in patients with cerebral infarction according to their CRP levels within 2 weeks after onset.