title: Thicker carotid intima-media thickness and increased plasma VEGF levels suffered by post-acute thrombotic stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerosis causes reduction of the oxygen supply to structures in the far arterial wall, provoking the release of factors that drive angiogenesis of vasa vasorum, including VEGF. Other studies have revealed the inflammatory response in atherosclerosis and the role of platelet factor 4 (PF4) as an anti-angiogenic chemokine through the inhibition of VEGF. This cross-sectional study aims at measuring the effect of atherosclerosis assessed through carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) against plasma VEGF levels in patients with post-acute thrombotic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  CIMT was assessed sonographically using GE Logiq S6 with 13 MHz frequency linear probe. VEGF-A plasma levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Differences among variables were compared statistically. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 25 patients with post-acute thrombotic stroke were identified in days 7 to 90. CIMT thickening was indicated in 88% of patients (1.202 ± 0.312 mm), while an increase in plasma VEGF was identified in all patients (178.28 ± 93.96 ng/mL). There was no significant correlation between CIMT and plasma VEGF levels in patients with post-acute thrombotic stroke (p=0.741). A significant correlation was recognized between CIMT and total cholesterol (p=0.029) and low-density lipoprotein (p=0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no significant correlations between CIMT and plasma VEGF levels in patients with post-acute thrombotic stroke. However, plasma VEGF increased in patients with thrombotic stroke. CIMT measurement is a promising noninvasive modality to assess the vascular condition of patients with stroke and diabetes, while plasma VEGF cannot specifically assess vascular condition as it can be triggered by ischemic conditions in tissues of the whole body.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Yuyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yueniwati
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Ni Komang
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Darmiastini
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Eko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arisetijono
keywords: CIMT; VEGF; atherosclerosis; thrombotic stroke