Stroke risk assessment utility of C-reactive protein in patients with atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at an increased risk of developing ischemic thromboembolic stroke, which can increase the burden of such co-morbid states. Inflammation has been found to promote the formation of thrombus, which can serve as a source of an embolus that can be dislodged to the cerebral vessels causing ischemic stroke. It is important to assess the risk of stroke in patients with AF which led to the formation of the CHA2 DS2-VASc score which clinically predicts the risk of stroke in patients with AF. This article suggests the use of C-reactive protein as a better tool in the risk assessment of stroke in patients with AF.