Serum Levels of YKL-40 in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients, and Its Relationship to Infarct Volume

Background: YKL-40, a novel inflammatory factor and has been shown to be involved in angiogenesis, tissue fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative tissue injury.YKL-40 was reported to be implicated in the development of ischemic stroke.The aim of this study was to investigate of the levels of YKL-40 in serum from patients with acute ischemic stroke (aIS), and its relationship to infarct volume.Methods: A total of 90 subjects, including 50 patients with aIS and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in study.Acute cerebral infarction was defined as area of increase signal intensity on the diffusion weighted images (DWI).To classify acute ischemic stroke according to etiologic subtype, used the Trials of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment.Serum YKL-40 levels was measured by ELISA.Volume of the cerebral infarction on DWI was measured by a separate investigator by Scion image software. Results:The patient group consisted of 28 males and 22 females with a mean age of 60.47.9years, while the control group comprised 21 males and 19 females with a mean age of 59.26.8 years.Serum YKL-40 levels of aIS patients were significantly higher than controls.Serum YKL-40 levels were 227.2878.23 ng/mL in aIS patients and 74.7813.94ng/mL in controls (P<.001).There were significantly positively correlated with between serum YKL-40 levels and infarct volume in patients with aIS (r=0.931,P<.001). Conclusion:Our study showed that serum YKL-40 levels increased in aIS patients, and the presence of a positive the relationship between the serum YKL-40 level and cerebral infarct volume.Further studies should clearly establish the effect of YKL-40 on the pathophysiology of acute-subacute cerebral ischemia and aim to predict the risk of stroke recurrence and post-stroke prognosis.