Inflammation, homocysteine, and vitamin B6 status after ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological studies have described an association between low vitamin B6 (measured as pyridoxal 5'-phosphate [PLP]) and ischemic stroke, independent of homocysteine (tHcy). We investigated B6 status, tHcy, and inflammation (measured by C-reactive protein [CRP]) in patients with stroke and controls.


METHODS
Consecutive cases with new ischemic stroke were compared with matched controls. Fasting tHcy, PLP, and CRP were measured.


RESULTS
The adjusted odds ratio of low PLP in the highest compared with the lowest CRP quartile was 16.6 (2, 139.9, P=0.01). Age, CRP, supplemental vitamin use, and albumin were independent predictors of PLP (P<0.05 for all). No relationship was observed between CRP and tHcy.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between inflammation and low B6 status may partially explain the findings of previous epidemiological studies.
Kelly
P J
PJ
Stroke Service, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Fruit St, Boston, Mass 02114, USA. pjkelly@partners.org
Kistler
J P
JP
Shih
V E
VE
Mandell
R
R
Atassi
N
N
Barron
M
M
Lee
H
H
Silveira
S
S
Furie
K L
KL
D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D026681:Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
D006710:Homocysteine; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D002097:C-Reactive Protein