Title: A Study on C Reactive Protein - Morbidity Predictor in Ischaemic Stroke
Authors: Brinda.J, John Christopher Ponnaiyan, Suresh Kumar, Manivel Ganesan
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i2.74
Abstract
Background: With an annual incidence of 0.2 to 2.5 per 1000 population, CVA is an important health problem worldwide. Though ischaemic CVA is one of the leading causes for death and disability, parameters for predicting, long term outcome in such patients have not been clearly delineated, especially in the Indian context. Various studies proved that C-reactive protein at admission was found to be a predictor of functional disability in ischaemic CVA. Inflammation regulates the production of the acute phase proteins such as c-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and serum amyloid A. The serum concentration of CRP can increase >1000 fold upon inflammation and with a half life of 19 hrs, CRP is a very stable marker of the inflammatory process. Most recent studies report that CRP is an independent predictor of risk of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular events, atherothrombosis, hypertension and myocardial infarction.
Materials and Methods: The present study is a prospective study and was conducted on 49 patients in the Department of General Medicine, Kanyakumari Government Medical college from January 2016 to January 2016. Various cerebrovascular accident cases admitted in our hospitals were clinically evaluated and diagnosis were confirmed radiologically. All cases were subjected to routine blood investigations along with acute phase proteins (c-reactive protein) on the day of admission and after 4 weeks. In all 49 cases, informed consent obtained from their guardians.
Results: Out of total 49 cases studied, 18 Cases were females & 31 cases were males. All the cases were grouped into 3 categories by Barthels Index accordingly. Patients with high C- reactive protein levels on the day of admission had more severe deficits and poor prognosis after 4 weeks than compared with other patients with normal level on the day of admission and better prognosis.