Abstract

Aim: High C - reactive protein (CRP) levels have been associated with larger infarct area, higher complication and mortality rates in patients with acute myocardial infaretion (AMI). In this study, our aim was to evaluate the relationship between CRP levels and the occurrence of congestive heart failure (CHF) during early phases of AMI. Methods: Seventy eight patients diagnosed as ST segment elevated AMI, were evaluated to determine the predictive role of CRP in CHF occurrence. The first obtained blood sample on admission to Coronary Care Unit (CCU) was used for CRP level determination. CHF was evaluated by Killip classification clinically and by Simson method echocardiographically. Results: CHF was found clinically in 26.9 % of patients. The comparisian of CRP levels in the patient groups with and without CHF, indicated that higher levels were determined in CHF group (p < 0.01). The patients were grouped in three subgroups according to their echocardiographically determined left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) values. CRP levels of the group with EF<% 39 was higher than the other groups (p < 0.01). A negative correlation between CRP and EF was obtained (p< 0.01). Similarly a positive correlation was shown between CRP and Killip groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: In this study, it was shown that CRP values obtained at admission to CCU were strongly related with CHF occurence in AMI. CRP levels can be used in determining the high risk patients in AMI.