An Elevated High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Level Is Associated with Unfavorable Functional Outcomes of Small-Artery Occlusion in Patients without Diabetes.

BACKGROUND

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is associated with a risk of causing diabetes mellitus and ischemic stroke. However, the association between hs-CRP levels and functional outcome after small-artery occlusion (SAO) is unknown.

METHODS

Data for 836 patients diagnosed with SAO were collected from the Department of Neurorehabilitation of Huanhu Hospital. Hs-CRP values were classified according to quartiles (<0.67, 0.67 to <1.46, 1.46 to <3.46, and ≥3.46 mg/L). We examined the relationship between hs-CRP levels on admission and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores using univariate and multivariate analyses. We further performed subgroup analyses of patients with and without diabetes.

RESULTS

Patients in the highest hs-CRP quartile had a significantly higher risk of an unfavorable outcome. In the non-diabetes subgroup, the elevated hs-CRP quartiles were associated with higher mRS scores. In the diabetes subgroup, no statistically significant association was observed between hs-CRP levels and mRS.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated hs-CRP level on admission was associated with a poor functional outcome 3 months after SAO, especially among nondiabetes patients. However, no significant associations were observed in patients with diabetes.