Prognostic significance of plasma resistin levels in patients with atherothrombotic ischemic stroke

Background: Resistin (RSN) is an adipocytokine involved in insulin resistance, obesity and atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the association between plasma RSN and outcome after ischemic stroke. Methods: RSN measured within 24 h after the event was related to functional outcome and 5-year survival in 211 subjects with first-ever atherothrombotic ischemic stroke. Prognosis was assessed by the Kaplan Meier and the Cox techniques. Results: The probabilities of death were 80.4%, 46.2% and 15.7% (p < 0.001) for patients stratified according to tertiles of RSN (> 30 ng/mL, 2030 ng/mL and < 20 ng/mL, respectively). The proportion of dependency (modified Rankin Scale score ! 3) was greater in 5-year survivors with RSN in the upper tertile (6/11 [54.5%]) compared to the middle (20/56 [35.7%]) and the lowest tertile (8/43 [18.6%]; p < 0.01). C-reactive protein levels (hazard ratio [HR] 3.96 [95% CI 2.06, 8.91]; p < 0.001), coronary heart disease (2.69 [1.62, 6.23]; p < 0.001), RSN levels (2.12 [1.31, 5.08] p < 0.001), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score (2.02 [1.23, 4.49]; p < 0.01) and age (1.84 [1.19, 3.93]; p < 0.01) were independent predictors of death. Conclusions: High plasma RSN appears to be associated with increased risk of 5-year mortality or disability after atherothrombotic ischemic stroke, independently of other adverse predictors. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.