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Serum cystatin C is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke

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Abstract

Background

Accumulating studies have shown that cystatin C may play important roles in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. However, the association between serum cystatin C and the characteristics of carotid plaques has not been elucidated. Furthermore, the diagnostic value of serum cystatin C in carotid stenosis has not been studied.

Methods

Serum cystatin C in 156 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the carotid artery was measured by ELISA. Intima-media thickness (IMT), stenosis of the symptomatic common carotid artery (CCA), extra/intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, and plaque characteristics were measured and recorded. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic value of serum cystatin C in carotid stenosis.

Results

One hundred fifty-six patients were divided into two groups based on their cystatin C levels. The degree of arteriosclerosis, the severity of plaques, and stenosis of the symptomatic CCA were significantly higher in the patients with high cystatin C levels. In addition, the rate of unstable plaques was significantly higher in those with high cystatin C. Serum cystatin C levels of 1.075 and 1.125 mg/L had diagnostic value in distinguishing stenosis of CCA and extracranial ICA, respectively.

Conclusions

Higher cystatin C levels were strongly correlated with symptomatic CCA stenosis and the rate of unstable plaques. Analysis of cystatin C levels may be useful for the identification of CCA stenosis and extracranial ICA in patients with AIS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Ren, Xiaoyu Dong & Jianfei Nao

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  1. Jing Ren
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  2. Xiaoyu Dong
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Correspondence to Jianfei Nao.

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Ren, J., Dong, X. & Nao, J. Serum cystatin C is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Neurol Sci 41, 2793–2800 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04383-9

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