Association of High Sensitive C - Reactive Protein with Severity of the Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Acute Anterior ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

High Sensitive C-reactive protein (hs- CRP) is an established risk marker in coronary artery disease. It is a marker of inflammation activated early after Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and its quantity depends upon extent of myocardial damage. Release of inflammatory marker occur after acute myocardial infarction leading to cardiac remodeling which clinically manifests as Heart failure (HF). Heart failure is a common complication after acute anterior myocardial infarction (AMI). The prevalence of post-infarct Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD) ranges from 27 to 60 % and half of patients having early post-infarct LVSD subsequently develop chronic heart failure. The purpose of this study is to show association between hs-CRP with LVSD in AMI and early detection of HF. This was a cross-sectional analytical study in which hs-CRP was done among all the study subjects between 24-48 hours after onset of AMI. The study population was categorized into groups I, II, II according to the lowest to highest hs-CRP level. Transthoracic echocardiography was done between 24-48 hours of anterior ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Then LVSD was assessed between those three groups and searched for association. Severely reduced ejection fraction (EF) was found in patients of group III (highest hs-CRP tertile) only. Severe and moderately reduced EF and FS was found significantly more in group III and II than group I (mid and lowest hs-CRP tertile) (p<0.001). High level of hs-CRP in patient of acute anterior STEMI patients was associated with moderate to severe reduction in EF and Fractional Shortening (FS).  So hs- CRP may be a prognostic marker in acute anterior STEMI complicating LVSD and early management would improved the short and long term prognosis.