Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the CRP locus have been found to be associated with CRP concentrations. We hypothesized that genetic variants associated with high CRP may confer a greater risk of stroke and recurrence. The hypothesis was tested in a case-control study and during follow-up of the case population.
Methods: Two genetic variants associated with serum CRP in the CRP gene were genotyped in a Chinese case-control study comprised of 1572 stroke patients and 1485 controls. The case population was followed for a median of 4.5 years (range, 0.1-6.0 years).
Results: During a median 4.5-year follow-up for 1526 stroke patients, 299 recurrent strokes were identified. No association was found between the SNPs or haplotypes of the CRP gene and stroke and its recurrence.
Conclusions: Although these variants and corresponding haplotypes in the CRP gene are associated with serum CRP concentrations, our study does not support that variants and corresponding haplotypes studied here have a major influence on risk of stroke and stroke recurrence. Therefore, we speculate that CRP is not a causal factor for stroke.