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C-Reactive Protein May Predict MI and Early Death, But Not Stroke
ST. PAUL, Minn -- October 20, 2009 -- People with high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) may be at higher risk for myocardial infarction (MI) and death, but not stroke, according to a study published in the October 20 print issue of the journal Neurology.
The study involved 2,240 people from the Northern Manhattan Study who were aged 40 years or older who had never had a stroke. Of the group, 63% were Hispanic, 20% were non-Hispanic black, and 15% were non-Hispanic white residents.
All participants had their blood tested for CRP levels and were evaluated for stroke and MI risk factors. They were followed for an average of 8 years. In that time, there were 198 strokes, 156 heart-related events, and 586 deaths.
The researchers found that people with CRP levels greater than 3 mg per liter were 70% more likely to suffer a MI and 55% more likely to die early compared with people who had levels of 1 milligram per liter or less of the protein in their blood.
The protein was not associated with an increased risk of stroke once other risk factors were taken into account.
"The role of this protein in predicting risk of stroke has been controversial although prior studies have found it to be a marker for predicting risk of heart disease," said study author Mitchell Elkind, MD, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
"However, in our large, multiethnic population, CRP levels did not play a role in predicting stroke, though they may still help determine whether someone is at risk of heart attack or early death."
"It appears that by living a healthy lifestyle, one may be able to lower these protein levels, thus lowering the risk of cardiac events and possibly early death," said Dr. Elkind.
"It may be that the failure of CRP to predict stroke in our study, unlike in some other populations, reflects the fact that our population is older and has more of these risk factors. While CRP may be predictive in generally young healthy people, it may be less useful among older, sicker people."
"More research needs to be done on why the protein wasn't able to predict stroke in the same manner as heart disease," he concluded.
SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology
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