Elevated high sensitivity CRP levels in patients with mitral stenosis and left atrial thrombus

Stasis of blood in the left atrium (LA) due to mitral obstruction is the principal mechanism of LA thrombus formation in patients with mitral stenosis (MS). The purpose of this case-control study was to determine the additional contributions of abnormal homosysteine/folate/B12 levels, chronic inflammation and markers of a procoagulant state. We found that elevated hsCRP levels were associated with the presence of left atrial thrombus, independent of the influence of conventional parameters indicating the severity of MS and its consequences.