Low-grade Inflammation Score: a Risk Factor for Stroke Recurrence in Patients With Intracranial Atherosclerotic...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Neurology
• Inflammation Biology

Background:

• Atherosclerosis involves chronic low-grade inflammation (LGI) in arteries.
• Elevated LGI scores correlate with cardio-cerebrovascular disease onset and recurrence.
• Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a significant cause of ischemic stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between LGI score and stroke recurrence in ICAS patients.
• To identify LGI score as a potential independent risk factor for stroke recurrence.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, multicenter hospital-based cohort study.
• Inclusion of 932 acute ischemic stroke patients with ICAS, followed for at least 1 year.
• Analysis using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival curves based on LGI quartiles.

Main Results:

• 80 patients experienced recurrent ischemic stroke during follow-up.
• Significant differences in inflammatory markers and stroke recurrence across LGI quartiles.
• Multivariate analysis revealed a 2.748-fold increased hazard ratio for stroke recurrence in the highest LGI quartile (Q4) compared to the lowest (Q1).

Conclusions:

• The LGI score is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke recurrence in patients with ICAS.
• Higher LGI scores are associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke.
• LGI assessment may aid in risk stratification for stroke recurrence in ICAS patients.