Association of serum albumin and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels with acute ischemic stroke severity

INTRODUCTION: Acute ischemic stroke, a type of cerebrovascular disease, is one of the most common causes of mortality and morbidity around the world. Albumin-induced neuroprotection can be attributed to properties such as reversal of thrombosis, improvement in microvascular blood perfusion, reduction in brain swelling. The increase in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (hs-CRP) after an ischemic stroke suggests a systemic inflammatory response and reveals the degree of brain damage. The purpose of the study was to assess the association of serum albumin and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels with acute ischemic stroke severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional observational study involving 90 patients admitted to the emergency department that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. At the time of admission blood samples were taken for measurement of serum albumin level (normal albumin level ≥3.5 g/dl and hypoalbuminemia <3.5 g/dl), hs-CRP (low risk <1.0 mg/L; average risk 1.0-3.0 mg/L; high risk >3.0 mg/L). The severity of stroke was assessed using the National Institutes of health stroke scale (NIHSS) score. RESULTS: 60% of the cases had a normal albumin level, while 40% of the cases had hypoalbuminemia. 82.22% of the cases had a high risk level of hs-CRP, while only 1.11% of the cases had a low risk level of hs-CRP. The association of hypoalbuminemia and hs-CRP with stroke severity on the NIHSS score measured at the time of admission. It was observed that there was a statistically significant correlation between hypoalbuminemia with stroke severity (p-value <0.002) and between hs-CRP levels with stroke severity (p-value <0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that the association between low serum albumin level and elevated hs-CRP levels with the severity of acute ischemic stroke was statistically significant.