title: Association between serum stromal cell-derived factor-1α and long-term outcome of acute ischemic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) provides neurotrophic support to neurons. In this prospective study, we investigated the association between SDF-1α and long-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 104 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke, identified within 24 h of symptom onset. Serum samples were collected immediately after admission and 3 months thereafter, as well as from age- and sex-matched normal controls. The correlation between acute-stage serum SDF-1α and stroke severity were analyzed. Finally, the relationship between serum SDF-1α and long-term outcome was evaluated by multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum SDF-1α levels were only higher in acute-stage stroke patients compared with the normal control group (p = 0.011). The serum SDF-1α level was increased in proportion to infarct volume (r = 0.220, p = 0.025) and initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (r = 0.275, p = 0.005). After adjustment for covariates, a high initial serum SDF-1α level (OR 1.167, p = 0.023) or second and third tertiles of SDF-1α level compared to first tertile (OR 4.644, p = 0.044 and OR 9.396, p = 0.025, respectively) were significantly associated with a favorable long-term outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This prospective study demonstrated a correlation between serum SDF-1α and favorable long-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Seo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wonki
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Mi K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae-Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Seong-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12