Serum level and prognostic value of neopterin in patients after ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
We hypothesized that serum level of neopterin is significantly predictive of prognostic outcome in patients after acute ischemic stroke (IS).


METHODS
Between November 2008 and May 2010, serum levels of neopterin were prospectively collected at 48 h after acute IS in 157 patients.


RESULTS
Serum neopterin levels were substantially higher in patients with severe neurological impairment [National institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥12] than in those with NIHSS <12 (p<0.008). Furthermore, Spearman's test showed a strongly positive correlation between neopterin level and NIHSS (p=0.003). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that serum neopterin level was strongly and independently predictive of NIHSS ≥12 (p=0.002) at 48 h after acute IS and 90-day major adverse clinical outcome (defined as NIHSS≥12, recurrent stroke or death) (p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum level of neopterin was notably increased after acute IS. This biomarker was strongly and independently predictive of 90-day unfavorable clinical outcome in patients after acute IS.
Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hung-Sheng
HS
Lin
Tzu-Hsien
TH
Tsai
Chu-Feng
CF
Liu
Cheng-Hsien
CH
Lu
Wen-Neng
WN
Chang
Shu-Feng
SF
Chen
Chi-Wei
CW
Huang
Chi-Ren
CR
Huang
Nai-Wen
NW
Tsai
Chih-Cheng
CC
Huang
Chia-Wei
CW
Liou
Tsu-Kung
TK
Lin
Min-Yu
MY
Lan
Hon-Kan
HK
Yip
D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019798:Neopterin