A study on the levels of c-reactive protein in subjects with acute ischemic stroke

Objectives: Cerebrovascular accident, which has considerable mortality and morbidity, deserves attention towards its prevention. The first lines of defense in stroke prevention are detecting and adequately treating manageable risk factors, C-Reactive protein, an acute phase reactant is an indicator of underlying systemic inflammation and a novel marker for atherothrombotic disease. Present study is an attempt to study the levels of C-Reactive protein in acute ischemic stroke and to correlate between serum C-Reactive protein levels in acute ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: Hundred patients with diagnosis of first ever acute ischemic stroke and hundred healthy age and sex matched controls were randomly selected for this case-control cross sectional study conducted from June 2016 to January 2017. Patients were examined, investigated as per proforma. In both cases and controls CRP levels were estimated. Results: There were 66 (66%) cases and 15 (15%) controls who had positive C-Reactive protein levels (0.6 mg/dL). Mean CRP levels among cases was 3.7 mg/dL and controls was 0.5 mg/dL, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: C-Reactive protein appears to be an important risk factor for acute thromboembolic stroke at levels of > 0.6 mg/dl. measures to reduce CRP levels by using statins probably helps in a significant way for primary and secondary prevention of stroke.