Background: Previous studies on inflammatory biomarkers in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) produced divergent results. We evaluated whether C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC) measured fasting 12-24 h after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) were associated with outcome in AIS patients without concomitant infection. Methods: The study included 352 AIS patients treated with IVT. Excluded were patients with community-acquired or nosocomial infection. Outcome was measured on discharge and 90 days after stroke onset with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and defined as poor outcome (mRS 3-6) or death (mRS = 6). Results: Final analysis included 158 patients (median age 72 years (interquartile range 63-82), 53.2% (n = 84) women). Poor outcome on discharge and at day 90 was 3.8-fold and 5.8-fold higher for patients with CRP ≥ 8.65 mg/L (fifth quintile of CRP), respectively, compared with first quintile (<1.71 mg/L). These results remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders (odds ratio (OR) on discharge = 10.68, 95% CI: 2.54-44.83, OR at day 90 after stroke = 7.21, 95% CI: 1.44-36.00). In-hospital death was 6.3-fold higher for patients with fifth quintile of CRP as compared with first quintile and remained independent from other variables (OR = 4.79, 95% CI: 1.29-17.88). Independent predictors of 90-day mortality were WBC < 6.4 × 109 /L (OR = 5.00, 95% CI: 1.49-16.78), baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR = 1.13 per point, 95% CI: 1.01-1.25) and bleeding brain complications (OR = 5.53, 95% CI: 1.59-19.25) but not CRP ≥ 8.65 mg/L. Conclusions: Non-infective CRP levels are an independent risk factor for poor short- and long-term outcomes and in-hospital mortality in AIS patients treated with IVT. Decreased WBC but not CRP is a predictor for 90-day mortality.
Keywords: C-reactive protein; outcome; prognosis; stroke; thrombolysis; white blood cell count.