Objective: To assess plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen (FIB) levels in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and explore the potential association among them.
Methods: In 23 consecutive patients with AIS diagnosed clinically and confirmed by CT brain scan, we measured plasma levels of ET-1 by radioimmunoassay, and CRP and FIB on the first and fifth days after the onset of AIS and we compared them with the levels of ten healthy volunteers in the control group.
Results: The mean plasma levels of ET-1 in AIS patients on the first and fifth days were respectively 19.93+/-6.72 and 16.47+/-26.3 pmol/l (p<0.001) compared with 3.68+/-1.2 pmol/l in the control group (p<0.001 versus mean values on the first and fifth days). The mean plasma levels of CRP in the patients on the first and fifth days were respectively 2.7+/-4.7 and 3.0+/-4.4 mg/dl (p>0.05) compared with 0.2+/-0.1 mg/dl in the control group (p<0.05 versus mean values on the first and fifth days). The mean plasma levels of FIB in the patients on the first and fifth days were respectively 361+/-98.89 and 392.7+/-144.89 mg/dl, while in the control group, it was 330.5+/-90.28 mg/dl (p>0.05 versus mean values on the first and fifth days). A positive association was found between the plasma levels of ET-1 and CRP on the fifth day (p<0.05).
Conclusions: ET-1 was found to be significantly elevated in the plasma in the AIS. There is association between ET-1 and CRP on the fifth day after AIS. Plasma levels of ET-1 and its association with CRP levels may be used as additional biomarkers for AIS.