C-reactive protein elevation independently influences the procedural success of percutaneous balloon mitral valve commissurotomy.

Background: Markers of systemic inflammation including C-reactive protein (CRP) appear to predict morbidity and mortality in various clinical conditions. The presence of systemic inflammation and its impact on the procedural success of percutaneous balloon mitral valve commissurotomy (PBMC) in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis has not been previously demonstrated.

Methods: Measurements of CRP with a high-sensitivity assay were performed at the time of PBMC or during post-procedural follow-up in 119 patients with mitral stenosis of rheumatic morphology.