RESUMEN
C-reactive protein, a well known marker of inflammation is being investigated as a probable marker of predicting acute cardiovascular events and its severity. The aim of the present study was to assess the possible role of highly-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] in predicting short-term functional outcome of ischemic stroke. A prospective study was conducted on subjects admitted with first attack of confirmed ischemic stroke. It included 50 male and 52 female. Serum hs-CRP was measured in the 2[nd] [CRP-D2] and 5[th] days [CRP-D5] post-stroke. Modified Rankin scale [MRS] was measured in all subjects in the 2[nd] [MRS-D2], 5[th] days [MRS-D5] and also 3 month [MRS-M3] after stroke to assess the short-term functional outcome and mortality of subjects. The mean age of the patients was 71.75 +/- 11.44 years. The mortality rate was 47.1% in the third months after stroke. There was no significant correlation between CRP-D2 and MRS-M3 and also between CRP-D5 and MRS-M3 [P>0.05]. However there was a significant association between high CRP-D2 [CRP>3] and MRS-M3 and also between high CRP-D5 and MRS-M3 [P<0.005]. This study showed that the value of CRP by itself could not predict the severity of short-term functional disability and it might not be useful as a clinical tool for predicting outcome