Study of C - Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) In Patients of Acute Myocardial Infarction

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of hs-CRP in patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to correlate it with various complications of AMI and in-hospital outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 90 subjects including 60 patients of AMI and 30 age and sex matched controls were included for study. The diagnosis of AMI was made on the basis of WHO criteria. The blood sample was drawn for measurement of hs-CRP, Troponin T/I and Lipid profile within six hours of admission. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective open labelled cohort study. OBSERVATION AND RESULTS: The mean hs-CRP in controls and cases was 1.7±0.23 mg/l and 3.32 ±0.69 mg/l respectively. The mean hs-CRP in patients who expired was 4.61±1.20 mg/l, whereas in those who survived was 2.81 ±1.42 mg/l (p < 0.001). The mean value of Troponin I in patients who expired was 5.47 ±1.7 ng/ml whereas in those who survived, was 3.03 ±1.55 ng/ml (p < 0.001). The mean hs-CRP among cases with various complications of AMI (atrioventricular blocks ventricular tachycardia, and hypotension) was in high risk group (> 3 mg/l). CONCLUSION: The level of hs-CRP in subjects presenting with AMI were elevated indicating the vulnerability of the atheromatous plaque. The adverse hospital outcome was correlated with the hs-CRP levels in higher risk group (> 3 mg/l). Finally a correlation was observed between levels of hs-CRP and complications of AMI though statistically insignificant. Hence hs-CRP may be used as a marker of short term prognosis in patients of AMI along with conventional markers like Troponin T / I.