Korean J Lab Med.  2007 Jun;27(3):197-204. 10.3343/kjlm.2007.27.3.197.

Inflammatory Marker Expression and Its Implication in Korean Ischemic Stroke Patients

• Park SY
• Kim MH
• Kang SY
• Suh JT
• Lee WI

• KMID: 1781484
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2007.27.3.197

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is a complex condition influenced by many factors. Previous studies have demonstrated that inflammatory markers might play a role in such vascular diseases. Therefore the purpose of this study was to compare the expression of inflammatory markers in Korean ischemic stroke patients and to investigate their relationship to APOE polymorphism. METHODS: The patient group consisted of 275 patients with large artery atherosclerosis (LAA, n=169) and small artery occlusion (SAO, n=106). One hundred and nineteen age matched healthy subjects were recruited as the control group. Serum levels of three inflammatory markers (matrix metalloproteinase, MMP-9; tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, TIMP-1; and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, hs-CRP) were measured in each patient by using commercially available kits. Comparison of clinical risk factors, inflammatory marker levels, and APOE genotypes between the stroke patient group and control group and between the two patient subgroups was assessed. RESULTS: Comparison of the stroke group to control group showed significantly elevated levels of circulating MMP-9 (P<0.01) and hs-CRP (P=0.01). Comparison between the individual subgroups revealed a significantly higher level of only TIMP-1 in the LAA subgroup compared to the SAO subgroup (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in inflammatory marker levels among each allele carrier. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed the obvious tendency of increased circulating inflammatory markers in the patients with acute ischemic attack, especially MMP-9 and hs-CRP. Our observations suggest that measurement of serum MMP-9, TIMP-1, and hs-CRP levels may be useful in the diagnosis of ischemic stroke patients.

Keyword

Ischemic stroke; Inflammatory markers; ApoE polymorphism

MeSH Terms

Aged
Apolipoproteins E/*genetics
Biological Markers/blood
Brain Ischemia/complications/*diagnosis
C-Reactive Protein/analysis
Carotid Artery Diseases/complications
Female
Genotype
Humans
Inflammation Mediators/*blood
Korea
Male
Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/blood
Middle Aged
Polymorphism, Genetic
Stroke/*diagnosis/etiology/immunology
Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/blood

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Inflammatory marker levels between ε4/non-ε4 carriers and ε2/non-ε2 carriers in ischemic stroke group and control group.

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  Fig. 2. Inflammatory marker levels between ε4/non-ε4 carriers and ε2/non-ε2 carriers in large artery group and small artery group.

Reference

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