C-reactive protein levels predict systolic heart failure and outcome in patients with first ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with coronary angioplasty.

Introduction: There is growing evidence that inflammation plays a pivotal role in the etiology and progression of atherosclerosis. High C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been associated with high mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Furthermore, in animal models CRP has been found to significantly increase infarct size.