AGE AND GENDER PREDILECTION OF PLASMA C-REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVELS ON MORTALITY IN FIRST EVER ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The measurement of markers of inflammation or thrombosis has been proposed as a method to improve the prediction of risk in patients with vascular disease. The role of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a novel plasma marker of atherothrombotic disease is currently under investigation. We related age and gender predilection of plasma CRP levels to first ever ischemic stroke and its role on mortality. Methods: Sixty patients with either hypertension or diabetes or both or none without thrombolysis with first ever acute ischemic stroke patients were examined. CT scan of brain was done after 24 hours of onset of symptoms to confirm the diagnosis. Plasma CRP level was determined after 12 - 72 hours range after the onset of symptoms in all CT confirmed ischemic stroke patients. This clinical study was done during June 2018 to January 2020. CRP was randomly measured in 60 age and sex matched individuals admitted in other wards of the hospital matched in all possible criteria expect the disease under study as a control group. Results: The CRP concentration in ischemic strokes is independent of infarction site, the value was more between 51-70 years of age group and almost equal in both gender. 54 of the 60 ischemic strokes studied had CRP value >6 mg/l and only 6 patients had <6 mg/l (p<0.001), chi square test value is ²=73.65 which is statistically significant. Only 7 of the 60 control group had CRP >6 mg/l. Conclusion: In this study mean C-Reactive protein levels were significantly higher in patients with ischemic stroke when compared to controls. C-reactive protein level increases as age advances. C-reactive protein is a better prognostic marker with no gender predilection and not a mortality predictor.