The relation between preprocedural C-reactive protein levels and early and late complications in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing interventional coronary angioplasty

Background: Inflammation is an important feature of arteriosclerotic disease, and the vulnerability of coronary plaques in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be related to the levels of serum C-reactive proteins (CRP). While some risk factors for early and late complications have been suggested, an accurate and definitive preprocedural risk stratification of patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is still lacking. Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to investigate whether early and late complications after PTCA could be predicted by evaluation of baseline serum CRP levels in patients with AMI Methods: Levels of serum CRP were measured in a total of 230 patients with AMI undergoing PTCA and provisional stent. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 48) with elevated CRP levels ( greater than or equal to 5 mg/l) and Group 2 (n = 182) with normal CRP levels (< 5 mg/l). Results: There were no significant differences in baseline clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics between the two groups. However, the incidence of in-hospital adverse coronary events (reinfarction, coronary reocclusion, target vessel revascularization, and death) and severe left ventricular dysfunction was significantly higher in Group 1 (18.3 vs. 6.1%, p < 0.05 and 20.9 vs. 6.1%, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, bailout stenting was performed more frequently in Group 1 than in Group 2 (60.4 vs. 36.3%, p < 0.005). No significant late complications were noted. The serum levels of CRP were the only independent predictors of early adverse events. Conclusions: Preprocedural serum CRP level might be considered a powerful predictor of early but not late complications in patients undergoing PTCA/stent procedures.