Acute phase IL-10 plasma concentration associates with the high risk sources of cardiogenic stroke.
BACKGROUND
Etiological assessment of stroke is essential for accurate treatment decisions and for secondary prevention of recurrence. There is evidence that interleukin-10 (IL-10) associates with ischemic stroke. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the levels of IL-10 in ischemic stroke with unknown or suspected cardiogenic etiology, and evaluate the correlation between IL-10 plasma concentration and the number of diagnosed high risk sources for cardioembolism.


METHODS
A total of 141 patients (97 males; mean age 61±11 years) with acute ischemic stroke with unknown etiology or suspected cardiogenic etiology other than known atrial fibrillation (AF) underwent imaging investigations to assess high risk sources for cardioembolic stroke established by the European Association of Echocardiography (EAE). IL-10 was measured on admission to the hospital and on a three month follow-up visit.


RESULTS
Acute phase IL-10 concentration was higher in patients with EAE high risk sources, and correlated with their number (p<0.01). In patients with no risk sources (n = 104), the mean IL-10 concentration was 2.7±3.1 ng/L (range 0.3-16.3 ng/L), with one risk source (n = 26) 3.7±5.5 ng/L (0.3-23.6 ng/L), with two risk sources (n = 10) 7.0±10.0 ng/L (1.29-34.8 ng/L) and with three risk sources (n = 1) 37.2 ng/L. IL-10 level was not significantly associated with cerebral infarct volume, presence of previous or recent myocardial infarction, carotid/vertebral artery atherosclerosis, paroxysmal AF registered on 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring or given intravenous thrombolytic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-10 plasma concentration correlates independently with the number of EAE cardioembolic risk sources in patients with acute stroke. IL-10 may have potential to improve differential diagnostics of stroke with unknown etiology.
Kuopio University Hospital, Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Radiology, Kuopio, Finland.
Otso
O
Arponen
Kuopio University Hospital, Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Radiology, Kuopio, Finland.
Antti
A
Muuronen
Kuopio University Hospital, Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio, Finland.
Mikko
M
Taina
Kuopio University Hospital, Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Radiology, Kuopio, Finland.
Petri
P
Sipola
Kuopio University Hospital, Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio, Finland; Heart Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Marja
M
Hedman
NeuroCenter, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland, and Unit of Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kuopio, Finland.
Pekka
P
Jäkälä
Kuopio University Hospital, Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Radiology, Kuopio, Finland.
Ritva
R
Vanninen
Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Eastern Finland Laboratory Centre, Kuopio, Finland.
Kari
K
Pulkki
Keski-Suomi Central Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Pirjo
P
Mustonen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology
D016753:Interleukin-10