Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Serum Rheumatoid Factor Levels at Acute Phase of Ischemic Stroke are Associated with Poststroke Cognitive Impairment
Zhengbao Zhu1, Lihua Chen2, Daoxia Guo2
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Background:
The effect of serum rheumatoid factor (RF) on poststroke cognitive impairment remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the association of serum RF in the acute phase with cognitive impairment at 3 months after ischemic stroke onset.
Methods:
Our study was based on a random sample from the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke, a total of 582 patients from 7 of 26 participating sites of the trial with serum RF levels were included in this analysis. Cognitive impairment was defined as Mini-Mental State Examination less than 27 or Montreal Cognitive Assessment less than 25.
Results:
According to Mini-Mental State Examination score, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of cognitive impairment for the highest tertile of serum RF was 1.79 (1.08-2.99) compared with the lowest tertile. Each standard deviation increase of log-transformed RF was associated with 33% (95% confidence interval: 7%-66%) increased risk of cognitive impairment, and a linear association between serum RF and risk of poststroke cognitive impairment was observed (P for linearity < .01). Adding log-transformed RF to a model containing conventional risk factors improved the predictive power for poststroke cognitive impairment (net reclassification improvement: 26.21%, P < .01; integrated discrimination index: 1.24%, P = .02). Similar significant findings were observed when cognitive function was defined by Montreal Cognitive Assessment score.
Conclusions:
Elevated serum RF levels in the acute phase were independently associated with 3-month cognitive impairment among ischemic stroke patients. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings and to clarify the potential mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Renal Impairment
One condition associated with renal failure is uremia. Uremia is characterized by impaired glomerular filtration and fluid accumulation in the body. This condition hinders the renal clearance of drugs, resulting in drug accumulation and potential...
Cognitive Dissonance
Phase Transitions
Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Drug's Physicochemical Properties and Plasma Levels
One important factor is the drug's molecular size. The kidneys readily excrete smaller molecules below 300 Daltons (Da). On the other hand, molecules weighing between 300 and 500 Da are excreted through both urine and bile. Larger molecules above 500 Da tend to be excreted...
Phase Diagrams
Leveling Effect

