Plasma cellular-fibronectin concentration predicts hemorrhagic transformation after thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke

Background and Purpose-Elevated plasma levels of cellular fibronectin (c-Fn) reflect vascular damage, so c-Fn might be a marker of secondary bleeding risk in cerebral ischemia. We investigated whether high plasma levels of c-Fn were associated with hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in patients with acute stroke. Methods-Eighty-seven patients (mean age: 67+/-12) received tPA after the ECASS II criteria (mean time to infusion: 160+/-46 minutes; median NIHSS: 12). HT and hypodensity volume were studied on computed tomography (CT) performed 24 to 36 hours after treatment. HT was classified according to the ECASS II definitions. c-Fn and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels were determined by ELISA in blood samples obtained before treatment and in 30 healthy subjects. Results-HT was found in 26 patients (30%); 15 patients had hemorrhagic infarction type 1 (HI-1), 7 had HI-2, and 4 had parenchymal hemorrhage (PH). Median c-Fn concentrations were 1.3, 1.7, 4.2, 5.4, and 7.3 mug/mL in controls, non-HT, HI-1, HI-2, and PH groups, respectively (P<0.001); median MMP-9 values were 54, 87, 154, 176, and 225 ng/mL (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that only c-Fn plasma levels remained independently associated with HT after adjusting for potential confounders (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.4; P=0.002). Similar results were obtained in the 71 patients treated within 3 hours. Conclusions-High plasma c-Fn levels are significantly associated with subsequent HT in stroke patients treated with tPA, so plasma c-Fn determinations might be useful in clinical practice to improve the risk/benefit ratio of thrombolytic treatment.