Influence of serum resistin on acute cerebral infarction

Abstract

Background Human resistin, which is a member of small cysteine-rich secreted proteins, has been implicated in inflammatory responses in several inflammatory conditions, such as acute pancreatitis, ankylosing spondylitis, Kawasaki disease and atherosclerosis. However, the relation between the serum resistin level and ischemic stroke has not been clearly elucidated. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical role of serum resistin in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 106 patients with acute cerebral infarction and 70 age-matched healthy control subjects were included in this prospective study. Serum resistin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent sandwich assay in the patient and control group.Results The serum resistin level was significantly higher in the patient group (37.6 ± 28.8 ng/ml) compared with the control group (19.2 ± 21.5; P <0.001). We also found that, as the quartile level of serum resistin increased, each adjusted relative odds ratio (OR) for stroke event increased. The highest quartile level of serum resistin was significantly associated with the increased risk of acute cerebral infarction (OR=5.79; P = 0.002). When we assessed the relation between serum resistin and stroke subtypes classified as per the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment Classification, the serum resistin level in the large artery atherscelrosis subtype increased significantly (49.2 ± 28.4 ng/ml; P = 0.016).Conclusion This study provides a more specific additional evidence of relation between the high serum resistin concentration and acute cerebral infarction, especially in the large artery atherosclerosis subtype. Further large-scale prospective studies are required to confirm the role of serum resistin in acute cerebral infarction.