Osteoprotegerin Assessment Improves Prediction of Mortality in Stroke Patients

Elevated circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) level is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for ischemic stroke and coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether OPG assessment may improve the prediction of mortality in patients with stroke.

Serum OPG, fetuin A, 25-OH-D₃, intact parathyroid hormone levels were assessed in serum samples which were left over after routine tests in a hospital laboratory. This assessment was conducted in 240 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke, admitted within 24hours after the onset of symptoms to the Stroke Unit. Mortality data were obtained from the local registry office.

The mean OPG serum level was 14.6 ± 6.0pmol/L (range: 3.7-43.4). There were no significant differences in the OPG values between men and women (13.9 ± 5.0 versus 15.1 ± 6.7 pmol/L; P = .12). Therefore, tertiles were calculated for the whole group. During the follow-up, 85 (35.4%) patients died and 92 (38.3%) died or had recurrent stroke. OPG level appeared a significant predictors of death and composite end-point (death/recurrent stroke), in addition to the well-established once (age, atrial fibrillation, diabetes RANKIN at admission and discharge, severity of stroke). In multivariable stepwise backward analyses, the OPG level persisted as a significant and independent predictor of death (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.084 (95% confidence intervals: 1.036-1.134)] and composite and point (HR = 1.082 [1.037-1.129]).

OPG level may be considered as a predictor of mortality in stroke patients.