The prognostic values of leukocyte Rho kinase activity in acute ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
It has been reported that leukocyte ROCK activity is elevated in patients after ischemic stroke, but it is unclear whether leukocyte ROCK activity is associated with clinical outcomes following acute stroke events. The objective of this study is to investigate if leukocyte ROCK activity can predict the outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.


METHODS
We enrolled 110 patients of acute ischemic stroke and measured the leukocyte ROCK activity and plasma level of inflammatory cytokines to correlate the clinical outcomes of these patients.


RESULTS
The leukocyte ROCK activity at 48 hours after admission in acute ischemic stroke patients was higher as compared to a risk-matched population. The leukocyte ROCK activity significantly correlated with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) difference between admission and 90 days after stroke event. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates showed lower stroke-free survival during follow-up period in patients with high leukocyte ROCK activity or plasma hsCRP level. Leukocyte ROCK activity independently predicted the recurrent stroke in patients with atherosclerotic stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows elevated leukocyte ROCK activity in patients with ischemic stroke as compared to risk-matched subjects and is an independent predictor for recurrent stroke.
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Song, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan ; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan.
Cheng-I
CI
Cheng
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Song, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan ; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan.
Yu-Chun
YC
Lin
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Song, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan ; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan.
Tzu-Hsien
TH
Tsai
Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan ; Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan.
Hung-Sheng
HS
Lin
Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan ; Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan.
Chia-Wei
CW
Liou
Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan ; Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan.
Wen-Neng
WN
Chang
Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan ; Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan.
Cheng-Hsien
CH
Lu
Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan ; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan.
Chun-Man
CM
Yuen
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Song, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan ; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City 83301, Taiwan.
Hon-Kan
HK
Yip
D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000097:blood*
D016207:Cytokines; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases