Correlations of Levels of Peripheral Blood Inflammatory Cytokines and Serum Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase-A2 with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Their Early Prognostic Value

Abstract

Respecting the significant role of inflammation in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) development, we explored the correlations of inflammatory cytokines and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) with AIS and their early prognostic value. The retrospectively enrolled subjects [Study (AIS patients) and Control (healthy volunteers) groups] were determined for serum index levels. Neurological impairment and early prognosis of AIS patients were assessed. The relationship of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the indexes and the risk factors and predictive value of peripheral blood inflammatory cytokines combined with Lp-PLA₂ for poor early prognosis were analyzed. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and Lp-PLA₂ levels rose in AIS patients, while IL-10 dropped. The NIHSS score positively correlated with IL-1β, TNF-α, and Lp-PLA₂ and negatively correlated with IL-10. As AIS aggravated, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and Lp-PLA₂ rose dependently, but IL-10 dropped. Patients in the poor early prognosis group had higher diabetes proportions, NIHSS scores and serum IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and Lp-PLA₂ levels at admission, as well as lower IL-10 levels than those in the good early prognosis group. IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and Lp-PLA₂ were risk factors, but IL-10 was a protective factor against poor early prognosis in AIS patients, with their combined detection showing high predictive value. Collectively, highly expressed IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and Lp-PLA₂ and lowly expressed IL-10 in patients with AIS closely related to AIS development and early prognosis, and their combination could increase the predictive value of NIHSS for AIS poor early prognosis.

Keywords: acute ischemic stroke; correlation; degree of neurological impairment; early prognosis; lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2; peripheral blood inflammatory cytokines; predictive value.