Correlation between serum pentraxin 3 and carotid atherosclerosis plaque in patients with acute cerebral infarction

Objective To study the correlation between serum pentraxin 3(PTX3)and the stability of carotid atherosclerosis plaque in patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI).Methods Ninety-nine patients with ACI(ACI group)were divided into no-plaques group(n=32),stable plaque group(n=34)and unstable plaque group(n=33). Another 30healthy volunteers were as controls(control group).The levels of serum PTX3were measured by ELISA and compared among groups.Results The serum PTX3level was higher in ACI group than that in control group(P0.01), and higher in unstable plaque group than that in no-plaque group and stable plaque group(P0.05).There was no significant difference between no-plaque group and stable plaque group(P0.05).Logistic regression analysis revealed PTX3was an independent risk factor for unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques(OR=3.23,95%CI:1.29to 8.10,P= 0.012).Conclusions The serum level of PTX3increases significantly in patients with ACI,and is closely correlated with the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque.