Low caveolin-1 predicts the poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Objective To investigate the correlation between the baseline serum caveolin-1 (Cav-1) levels and the clinical outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke at day 90 after onset. Methods Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated in hospital were enrolled. The Cav-1 levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Functional outcomes were assessed at day 90 after onset using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and mRS 0-2 was defined as good outcome. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the good outcome group and the poor outcome group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the correlation between the low serum Cav-1 levels and the poor outcome at day 90 after onset. Results A total of 169 patients with acute ischemic stroke were included in the analysis, including 116 males (68.5%). Their age ranged from 50 to 83 years (mean, 63.4±9.1). The mean serum Cav-1 level was 5.483±2.617 ng/ml. Eighty-three-patients (49.1%) were in the good outcome group and 86 (50.9%) were in the poor outcome group. Univariate analysis showed that the proportions of patients in subcortical infarct (60.5% vs. 43.4%; χ2=4.944, P=0.026) and diffusion-weighted imaging-Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, (DWI-ASPECT) ≤7 (58.1% vs. 40.9%; χ2=4.984, P=0.026), as well as age (65.5±8.9 years vs. 61.2±10.7 years; t=2.793, P=0.006), baseline systolic blood pressure level (140.6±17.2 mmHg vs. 134.9±13.4 mmHg; t=2.368, P=0.019; 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (4.8±3.4 vs. 3.9±2.2; t=2.211, P=0.036) were significantly higher than those of the good outcome group, and the serum Cav-1 level was significantly lower than that of the good outcome group (4.9±2.3 ng/ml vs. 6.1±2.1 ng/ml; t=2.977, P=0.003). After adjusting for the related confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the low Cav-1 level was an independent predictor of poor outcome at day 90 in patients with acute ischemic stroke (odd ratio, 1.157, 95% confidence interval 1.016-1.319; P=0.028). Conclusion The low serum Cav-1 level is an independent predictor of poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Key words: Stroke; Brain Ischemia; Caveolin 1; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Biomarkers