For instance, baseline CRP levels were higher in 74 lacunar stroke patients within a month of symptom onset compared to 74 controls matched for age, sex, hypertension and diabetes; however, this difference was attenuated by 3 months post-stroke, possibly suggesting that the observed elevated CRP levels in lacunar stroke patients were attributable to an acute ischaemic event rather than chronic SVD disease mechanisms [38]. Here, CRP is linked to Hypertension.