Change of level of serum visfatin and its correlation with carotid atherosclerotic plaque formation and stability in patients with acute cerebral infarction

Objective To explore the change of level of serum visfatin and its correlation with carotid atherosclerotic plaque formation and stability in patients with acute cerebral infarction( ACI). Methods Carotid artery ultrasonography were examined in 89 patients with ACI( ACI group),serum visfatin levels were measured by ELISA in ACI group and 85 patients without ACI( control group). Results Carotid artery ultrasonography of ACI group showed that 61 cases with carotid atherosclerotic plaque,including 41 cases with unstable plaque( unstable plaque subgroup),20 cases with stable plaque( stable plaque subgroup),28 cases without plaque( no plaque subgroup). Compared with the serum visfatin level of control group [( 13. 55 ± 4. 31) μg /L],which in ACI group,unstable plaque subgroup and stable plaque subgroup [( 19. 38 ± 5. 53) μg /L,( 22. 26 ± 5. 83) μg /L,( 18. 72 ±4. 42) μg /L]were significantly increased( all P 0. 05),while that in no plaque subgroup [( 15. 49 ± 4. 47) μg /L]was no statistic difference. Serum visfatin levels in unstable plaque subgroup and stable plaque subgroup were significantly higher than that in no plaque subgroup; and which in unstable plaque subgroup was significantly higher than that in stable plaque subgroup( all P 0. 05). Conclusion Serum visfatin level in ACI patient is significantly increased,and which is closely related to the formation and stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque.