title: C-reactive protein and fibrinogen in acute stroke patients with and without sleep apnea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although sleep apnea (SA) is a risk factor for ischemic stroke and an important prognosticator in affected patients, the exact pathophysiological link between SA and stroke remains to be established. We investigated whether levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen are increased in patients with acute stroke and SA compared with stroke patients without SA.
  
  
  METHODS
  117 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke admitted to our stroke unit within 12 h after stroke onset were included in this study. On admission, CRP and fibrinogen levels were determined. All patients received cardiorespiratory polygraphy during the first 72 h of their hospital stay. In all patients, demographic data, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and cerebrovascular risk factors were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SA defined by an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of > or =10/h was found in 64 (55%) patients. Elevated CRP and fibrinogen levels were seen twice as often in patients with SA than in patients without (CRP: 52 vs. 26%; fibrinogen: 72 vs. 37%). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, an AHI of > or =10/h was independently correlated with raised levels of both of these parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SA is independently associated with raised levels of CRP and fibrinogen in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We assume that both proteins are part of the pathophysiological pathway linking SA to stroke.
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Munster, Munster, Germany. dziewas@uni-muenster.de
authors: Rainer
authors: R
authors: Dziewas
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Ritter
authors: Linn
authors: L
authors: Kruger
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Berger
authors: Claus
authors: C
authors: Langer
authors: Jorg
authors: J
authors: Kraus
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Dittrich
authors: Wolf R
authors: WR
authors: Schabitz
authors: E Bernd
authors: EB
authors: Ringelstein
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Young
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein