Relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and early neurological deterioration in stroke patients with and without atrial fibrillation

• Published in: Heart & lung 2020-03, Vol.49 (2), p.193-197
• Main Authors: Duan, Zuowei, Guo, Wei, Tang, Tieyu, Tao, Lihong, Gong, Kaizheng, Zhang, Xinjiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atrial fibrillation; C-reactive protein; Early neurological deterioration; NIHSS; Stroke
• ISSN: 0147-9563; 1527-3288
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2019.10.009

•A prospectively study contained 655 acute ischemic stroke patients were conducted to analyze the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) with early neurological deterioration (END).•The association of baseline hsCRP levels with END was analyzed in acute ischemic stroke with and without AF respectively.•High hsCRP level was independently correlated with END in patients with AF-S, not in Non-AF-S, which to some degree suggested that hsCRP might be a target for intervention during the acute phase of ischemic stroke.•The development of specific human hsCRP inhibitors might further help elaborate the precise mechanisms underlying END. The association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) with early neurological deterioration (END) is unclear, especially in stroke patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). In this study, we aimed to assess the association of baseline hsCRP levels with END in acute ischemic stroke with and without AF. Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients prospectively recruited from the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University were analyzed and divided into two groups: AF related stroke (AF-S) and non-AF related stroke (Non-AF-S) groups. Plasma hsCRP levels on admission were categorized into three risk groups: low (3 mg/L). A total of 655 consecutive patients diagnosed acute ischemic stroke were prospectively registered from our department in 2015–2018, which included 168 AF-S and 487 Non-AF-S cases. After standard therapy, 62 AF-S and 155 Non-AF-S cases developed END within 72 h of hospitalization. In AF-S cases, statistical differences between END and Non-END patients were found in age, gender, baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, fasting blood glucose, responsible artery occlusion, CHA2DS2-VASc score and hsCRP level (p