Orosomucoid, Carotid Plaque, and Incidence of Stroke

Orosomucoid (α-1-acid glycoprotein) is an acute-phase protein that has been implicated in anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, and angiogenic pathways. Orosomucoid has also been associated with coronary disease and stroke. The relationship between orosomucoid, carotid plaque, and stroke incidence were explored in this study.

Plasma levels of orosomucoid were assessed in 4285 subjects (39.8% men; mean age 57.5±5.9 years) without cardiovascular disease, who participated in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, between 1991 and 1994. The right carotid artery was examined for plaque using B-mode ultrasound examination. Incidence of stroke was followed up during a median follow-up time of 17.7 years.

Carotid plaque was present in 43.5% at baseline. Orosomucoid was significantly higher in subjects with carotid plaque (mean±SD: 0.72±0.22 versus 0.69±0.20 g/L; P<0.001). A total of 234 subjects were diagnosed with ischemic stroke during follow-up. Orosomucoid was associated with ischemic stroke after adjustment for risk factors, with hazard ratio 1.48 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.16) comparing the third versus first tertile. In subjects with plaque and belonging to the top tertile of orosomucoid, the hazard ratio was 2.07 (95% confidence interval, 1.38-3.11) compared with those without plaque and with orosomucoid in the first and second tertiles, after adjustment for C-reactive protein and other risk factors.

Elevated levels of orosomucoid are associated with increased occurrence of carotid plaque and increased incidence of ischemic stroke. The combination of high orosomucoid and carotid plaque substantially increase the risk of stroke.