Fetuin-A and CD40L plasma levels in acute ischemic stroke: differences in relation to TOAST subtype and correlation with clinical and laboratory variables

INTRODUCTION: Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation plays an important role in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. CD40 L is a well recognized atherosclerotic inflammatory marker, whereas recent evidence suggests a pro-inflammatory role of Fetuin-A. To analyze the role of an inflammatory marker such as CD40 L and of a candidate pro-inflammatory marker such as Fetuin-A in acute stroke we evaluated their serum levels in subjects with acute ischemic stroke and their possible association with other laboratory and clinical variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 107 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Internal Medicine Department at the University of Palermo between November 2006 and January 2008, and 102 hospitalized control patients without a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Patients with acute ischemic stroke in comparison to control subjects without acute ischemic stroke had significantly higher CD40 L levels and Fetuin-A serum levels. No significant differences in plasma CD40 L or Fetuin-A levels among different TOAST groups were detected. At intragroup (intra-TOAST-subtype) correlation analysis, among subjects classified as lacunar, CD40 L plasma levels were positively correlated with LDL-cholesterol and with diabetes, whereas Fetuin-A was significantly (positively) correlated with hypertension and white blood cell count. Among subjects with LAAS subtype, CD40 L levels were positively correlated with triglyceride plasma levels and Fetuin-A, whereas Fetuin-A levels were positively correlated with LDL-cholesterol. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest a pro-inflammatory role of Fetuin-A and CD40 L in acute stroke setting. Whether this role should be construed as direct or as a simple expression of a general inflammatory activation will be up to future studies to clarify