Our results show that (i) poor outcome and death occur significantly more often in stroke patients with elevated CRP levels before MT, particularly in patients with atrial fibrillation, (ii) these effects seem to be mediated by a systemic inflammatory environment and not as a response to brain tissue ischemia, and (iii) the ischemia-inflammation cascade in MT patients is more pronounced if CRP levels are elevated ad initio. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is atrial fibrillation.