Plasma C-reactive protein predicts left ventricular remodeling and function after a first acute anterior wall myocardial infarction treated with coronary angioplasty: comparison with brain natriuretic peptide.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) directly participates in the myocardial injury of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Although high plasma CRP levels in the acute phase strongly indicate a poor early clinical outcome of patients with MI, the impact of CRP levels on late left ventricular (LV) function and remodeling, which are closely associated with long-term prognosis, remains unknown.

Hypothesis: Acute plasma CRP levels may predict late LV function and remodeling after MI.