title: Role of cell adhesion molecules in acute ischemic stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The expression of soluble adhesion molecules inter-cellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), besides activation of endothelial cells and transendothelial migration of leukocytes, play an important role in inflammation and progression of ischemic injury after acute stroke. The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in patients with acute ischemic stroke and controls and correlate them according to etiological subtypes (thromboembolic or lacunar stroke), stroke severity and disability after acute stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based prospective study of acute stroke patients hospitalized between December 2008 and September 2009 at the University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice in Zagreb, Croatia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 110 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 93 healthy individuals as controls. Serum concentrations of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were determined by means of quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Patients were classified according to etiological subtype, clinical severity of stroke and disability after stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between levels of soluble adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in patients and in controls. Levels of VCAM-1 were significantly higher in patients with thromboembolic stroke than in controls. There was no significant correlation between levels of soluble adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and stroke severity and disability. There was marked biological interindividual variability in all patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms the role of adhesion molecule VCAM-1 in the pathogenesis of acute thromboembolic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia. visnjasupanc@inet.hr
authors.forename: Visnja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Supanc
authors.forename: Zrinka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Biloglav
authors.forename: Vanja Basic
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Kes
authors.forename: Vida
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Demarin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017523:Croatia; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000473:pathology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1