Inflammatory markers and conventional atherosclerotic risk factors in acute ischemic stroke: comparative study between vascular disease subtypes.
BACKGROUND
Large vessel atherosclerosis and small vessel disease are two major causes of ischemic stroke. In patients with large vessel disease, the lesions can be located in the extracranial carotid or intracranial arteries.


OBJECTIVE
To search for the differences of risk factors and inflammatory markers among patients with each subtype of vascular disease.


METHODS
Patients with acute ischemic stroke who had large vessel atherosclerosis or small vessel disease were studied. Patients with large vessel atherosclerosis were subdivided into extracranial carotid and intracranial stenosis groups. Blood samples were collected for c-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin A1C fibrinogen, fasting plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density and high-density lipoproteins. Risk factors and results of the blood tests between the groups of patients were compared.


RESULTS
There were 116 patients in the study. Sixty-three patients had large vessel disease, whereas 53 patients had small vessel disease. More prevalence of diabetes and higher c-reactive protein were significantly found in patients with large vessel disease. C-reactive protein on admission was also higher in patients with extracranial carotid stenosis than those with intracranial stenosis. Serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein was significantly higher in patients with intracranial stenosis than those with small vessel extracranial disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes and higher c-reactive protein on admission were associated with large vessel disease. c-reactive protein was also higher in patients with extracranial carotid stenosis but their cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were significantly lower than those with intracranial disease.
Suwanwela
Nijasri C
NC
Neurological Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Rama IV Rd, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. fmednsu@md2.md.chula.ac.th
Chutinet
Aurauma
A
Phanthumchinda
Kammant
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006454:Hemoglobins; D008055:Lipids; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein