title: Relationship between ankle brachial index (ABI), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and initial disability level in acute ischemic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relationship between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), Ankle Brachial index (ABI), severity of atherosclerosis and risk of ischemic stroke has been well documented. Studies concerning the association of ABI, hs-CRP and initial disability level in acute ischemic stroke are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hs-CRP, ABI and level of initial disability in acute stroke setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective observational study in patients with acute ischemic stroke within 48 hours of onset. Initial ABI, hs-CRP were measured. Disability level was assessed at admission and 3 months using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and the National Institue of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS). Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study included 36 patients with a mean +/-SD age of 67.8 +/- 9.3 years. Sixteen (44.4%) were male. Median NIHSS and mRS were 10 and 4 respectively. Correlation between initial ABI and hs-CRP was poor (r(s) = -0.11, p = 0.57). There was a significant negative relationship between ABI and mRS at 0 and 3 months with a correlation coefficient of -0.45 (p = 0.006) and -0.41 (p = 0.02), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a significant inverse relationship between ABI and initial stroke disability. However, correlation coefficient indicated only fair agreement beyond chance. This findings suggest that ABI may be used as a clinical predictor of initial disability level in acute stroke.
authors: Division ofNeurology, Department of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Songkram
authors: S
authors: Chotik-anuchit
authors: Yongchai
authors: Y
authors: Nilanont
authors: Niphon
authors: N
authors: Poungvarin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein