OBJECTIVEThere is growing evidence indicating that reactions of inflammatory system play an important role in stroke and development of carotid plaques. It is purposed to understand the relationship between serum level of c-reactive protein (CPR) and size of cerebral infarction, carotid plaques and prognosis of ischemic stroke.

METHODSA total of 121 patients with ischemic stroke were included in the study. Serum level of CRP was measured within 72 hours after onset of index stroke. All patients were scored by CNDF based on deficit in their clinical neurological function, and examined with CT/MRI and carotid duplex ultrasound scanning.

RESULTSLeukocyte count and blood glucose level at admission were significantly higher in the group with abnormal serum level of CRP than those with normal one (P = 0.045 and P = 0.021, respectively). Incidence of territory infarction (42 cases, 61.76%) was also significantly higher than that of lacunar infarction (23 cases, 43.4%), with P = 0.044. Occurrence of carotid plaques was higher in the former (32 cases, 65.30%) than that in the latter (17 cases, 34.69%), with P = 0.035. CNFD scores were higher in the former (ranging 6 - 35, with a median of 18) than those in the latter (ranging 6 - 28, with a median of 11), with Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.0001. And, more severe prognosis was also found in the former than in the latter, with P = 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONSerum level of CRP was an important prognostic marker for carotid plaque and stroke.