Inflammatory markers aid prediction of stroke risk

New research has shown that two common markers of inflammation can help to predict people who are at risk of ischemic stroke.

Dr Vijay Nambi, a cardiologist at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and Baylor College of Medicine, and colleagues found that adding the inflammatory biomarkers lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) to the traditional risk assessment tools for stroke risk helped to improve the accuracy of stroke prediction.

Study results showed that 39% of study participants classed as having an intermediate-risk of stroke had to be reclassified into higher or lower risk groups after the researchers took Lp-PLA2 and CRP into account. As the researchers expected, very few (just 4%) of low-risk participants were reclassified after taking the biomarkers into account, and none were reclassified as high-risk.

“If we can identify increased risk for stroke, we can recommend exercise, smoking cessation, and cholesterol and blood pressure medication to reduce a person's risk for stroke by more than 30 percent,” said Dr. Nambi, in a news release. “Adding these two biomarkers to traditional risk assessment tools improves our ability to do that.”

Nambi V, Hoogeveen RC, Chambless L, et al. Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Improve the Stratification of Ischemic Stroke Risk in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Stroke 2008. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.513259

News release: Two Biomarkers Improve Prediction of Stroke Risk. Methodist Hospital, Houston.  December 18th 2008.

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