Inflammatory markers have been associated with functional outcome and mortality of stroke. We investigated the changes in procalcitonin (PCT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) levels during the acute period of ischemic stroke and evaluated the relationship between these levels and the long-term functional outcome and mortality. We prospectively studied 376 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who were admitted within 24 h after the onset of symptoms. PCT, Hs-CRP, and NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were measured at the time of admission. Long-term functional outcome were measured by modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 1 year after admission. The correlations between the levels of PCT, Hs-CRP, and mortality at 1 year after stroke onset were analyzed. Patients with poor with functional outcome and non-survivors had significantly increased PCT and Hs-CRP levels on admission. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PCT was an independent prognostic marker of 1-year functional outcome and death [odds ratio (OR) 2.33 (95% CI, 1.33-3.44) and 3.11 (2.02-4.43), respectively, P < 0.0001 for both, adjusted for age, NIHSS, other predictors, and vascular risk factors] in patients with AIS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of PCT was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.72-0.83) for functional outcome and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.84-0.93) for mortality. PCT improved the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the NIHSS score for functional outcome from 0.74 (95% CI, 0.66-0.81) to 0.85 (95% CI, 0.76-0.92; P < 0.0001) and for mortality from 0.77 (95% CI, 0.70-0.83) to 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-0.97; P < 0.0001). Serum level of PCT at admission was an independent predictor of long-term functional outcome and mortality after ischemic stroke in Chinese sample.
Keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Functional outcome; High-sensitivity C-reactive protein; Mortality; Procalcitonin.