Serum C-reactive Protein Levels in Cerebrovascular Accidents

Abstract

Background: C- reactive protein (CRP) is an annular acute-phase pentameric protein of 206 amino acids found in blood plasma with a molecular mass of 120,000 daltons and it increases within six hours of inflammation which can be measured in the serum. Stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the sudden death of brain cells due to inadequate blood flow and one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. By correlating the relationship between stroke and CRP levels, the study aims to estimate serum CRP in patients suffering from CVA and compare these with apparently normal healthy individuals. Secondly, to find out any difference in serum CRP levels between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke cases. Materials & methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Medicine from November 2020 to October 2022. The study population consisted of 60 CVA patients and 60 age matched healthy individuals. Results: The study showed the highest prevalence of CVA cases in the age group of 51-60 years signifying the risk of stroke increases with age with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The level of serum CRP was found to be significantly higher in cases (6.56 ± 2.59) mg/L than the healthy controls (1.77 ± 0.88) mg/L indicating that the pathophysiology of CVA involves inflammatory pathways. And it showed significant increased CRP levels in case of ischaemic stroke (7.75±2.24) mg/L than that of haemorrhagic stroke (5.20±2.31) mg/L. Conclusion: The present study shows a significant increase in serum C-reactive protein in cerebrovascular accident patients and also it increases more in the ischaemic type than the haemorrhagic type. Further long-term perspective studies are needed to establish the role of CRP in stroke patients.

Keywords: C-reactive protein, cerebrovascular accident, inflammation, biomarker