Clinical and Laboratory Biomarkers in Patients With Atherothrombotic Stroke

Background: Laboratory biomarkers of atherosclerosis can be valuable in decision about operative treatment in patients with mild to severe atherosclerotic carotid stenosis (ACAS) and high stroke risk. However nowadays there are no established instruments for personalized atherothrombotic stroke diagnostics. Aim of the present study was to access atherosclerosis biomarkers serum levels in patients with ACAS during the ischemic stroke/ transient ischemic attack (TIA) acute phase.

Main objective of the study To explore informative biomarkers to determine the risk of stroke in patients with significant ACAS.

Secondary objectives

1. To investigate the association between the degree of neurological and cognitive deficits , the features of the disease , the severity of brain lesions according to neuroimaging data with the concentration of lipoprotein -associated phospholipase A2 (LP-PL-A2), high sensitive C- reactive protein (hsCRP) , pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), lipoprotein (a) in patients with atherothrombotic stroke.
2. To find the most valuable laboratory biomarkers of atherosclerosis , to compare them with clinical and objective data to make decision about inclusion of these biomarkers in routine practice as a screening test of atherosclerotic plaque instability and for stroke risk prediction and in decision about operative treatment in patients with ACAS.

Design and Methods A single-blind cross-sectional trial was performed to investigate laboratory biomarkers of atherosclerosis in patients with atherosclerotic stenosis of the internal carotid artery 50-99 % , and in healthy volunteers. Randomizing and blinding technique: laboratory scientist and statistician do not have information about the belonging of biomaterials patient to any of the groups studied .