C-reactive protein and aetiological subtypes of cerebral infarction

Objective We have sought to relate C-reactive protein (CRP), a peripheral marker of inflammation frequently elevated in stroke patients, with aetiology and prognosis of acute cerebral infarction. Patients and methods Patients were included after a first-ever CT/MR documented cerebral infarction. CRP was measured from blood samples taken within the 6th hour of the onset. Titres of C-reactive protein were stratified in quartiles. Aetiology of stroke was from TOAST criteria. Prognosis was mortality within 14 days of stroke. Results The study included 648 stroke patients. They were 335 women and 313 men, with a mean age of 70.3 years (median 72). CRP quartiles were mostly increased in cardioembolic strokes, After logistic regression analysis CRP remained an independent factor of 14-day mortality. Conclusions Our study suggests that in the acute phase of the cerebral infarction CRP might be either a marker of cardioembolism or a predictive factor for short-term mortality.