The role of serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of C reactive protein in evaluating neurological functional recovery of acute cerebral infarction patients

As one non-specific acute reactive factor, C reactive protein (CRP) is closely related with the occurrence of cerebral infarction and can work as one evaluating index reflecting nervous system injury. This study recruited acute cerebral infarction (ACI) patients, whose neurological functions and CRP levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested to analyze its correlation with functional recovery of ACI patients. ACI patients in our hospital were recruited to analyze the CRP level in serum and CSF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). With concurrent neurological function evaluation, the correlation between CRP level and functional recovery was analyzed. ACI patients had higher serum and CSF CRP levels compared to recovered patients or healthy ones. On day 7, both CRP levels reached peak values, with gradually decrease till day 14. Those patients with severe neurological functional deficits had higher CRP contents (both serum and CSF) compared to those having mild or moderate ACI. A positive correlation existed between serum and CSF levels of CRP (P<0.05). CRP level was found to be positively correlated with the severity of neurological deficits. The combined assay of serum and CSF levels of CRP may work as effective index reflecting the functional recovery after ACI.