The relationship between chemerin levels and carotid intima-media thickness in ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Ischemic strokes are most often caused by atherothrombotic processes.Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by formation ofplaques called atherom in the intima layer. Some studies have shown that adipokines secreted from adipose tissue have local and endocrin effects on atherosclerotic lesions. One of these adipokines is chemerin activated by inflammatory and coagulation serine proteases and stimulate chemotaxis of dendritic cells and macrophages to the site of inflammation. In this study, the relationship between high chemerin levels and carotid intima-media thickness, as an early predictor of atherosclerosis, is evaluated in patients with ischemic stroke.40 (fourty) patients diagnosed with acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease and control group of 40 (fourty) healthy volunteers were evaluated prospectively.The patients underwent cranial imaging, and neurological examinations were performed. The demographic characteristics of the groups were recorded. In addition, risk factors for ischemic stroke, such as hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiac disease were evaluated. The carotid intima-media thickness was measured using doppler ultrasound. The serum chemerin levels were also compared according to the size of the ischemic areas in the TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) category in the patients group.Serum chemerin levels were higher in patient group than the control group. There was statistically significant (p<0,05). Also, the difference of carotid intimamedia thickness between the patients group and the control group was statistically significant (p<0,05). There was a significant positive correlation between serum chemerin levels and carotid-intima-media thickness. According to the TOAST category, the difference between serum chemerin levels and carotid intima-media thickness of patients who have small and big infarct area wasn't statistically significant (p>0.05).Consequently, in this study we discovered that serum chemerin molecule may have role in atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke. Also; it is assumed that chemerin viihas other effects besides proinflammatory ones because of the fact that chemerin levels increase in ischemic stroke, especially in acute periods. Key Words: Ischemic stroke, Chemerin, Carotid intima-media thickness