BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the association between serum level of chemerin with AIS and carotid artery atherosclerosis, and to investigate the level of chemerin as a potential novel cerebrovascular risk factor.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared the serum chemerin levels and cerebrovascular parameters between 70 AIS patients and 70 non-AIS subjects in a Chinese population. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of serum chemerin. The state of carotid artery plaques in the AIS group was detected by color Doppler ultrasound. We used SPSS software for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Compared with the non-AIS group, serum level of chemerin in the AIS group increased significantly (p<0.01). Multivariable logistic regression suggested that serum chemerin level, neutrophil count, and BMI were independent risk factors for AIS (p<0.05). Compared with the non-unstable plaque group, there were significant differences from the unstable plaque group in serum chemerin level (p<0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the LDL-C, FIB, and serum chemerin levels were independent risk factors for carotid artery plaque instability (P<0.05). The levels of serum chemerin in the subjects with no carotid artery plaque were significantly lower than in those with carotid artery plaques of 2 and ≥3 (P=0.013; P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the serum chemerin level may be an independent risk factor for AIS and carotid artery plaque instability in Chinese populations.

Keywords: Body Mass Index, Carotid Arteries - pathology, Carotid Artery Diseases - ethnology, Chemokines - blood, Cross-Sectional Studies, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - blood, Ischemia - ethnology, Leukocyte Count, Multivariate Analysis, Neutrophils - cytology, Risk Factors, Software, Stroke - ethnology, Ultrasonography, Doppler