ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A2075 ETIOLOGY-DEPENDENT PATTERNS OF ICAM-1 AND HS-CRP IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE (TOAST CLASSIFICATION)

Abstract Background and aims Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays a central role in vascular inflammation and is elevated in atherosclerosis and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) reflects systemic endothelial-related inflammation. This study aimed to compare serum ICAM-1 and hs-CRP levels across etiological subtypes of AIS according to the TOAST classification. Methods A total of 118 patients with AIS were enrolled. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained within 24 hours of hospital admission. Serum ICAM-1 and hs-CRP concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Patients were categorized into TOAST subtypes: small vessel occlusion (SVO), large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), cardioembolic (CE), other determined etiology (OE), and undetermined etiology. Biomarker levels were compared among these groups. Results Serum ICAM-1 levels differed significantly between etiological subtypes. The lowest mean concentration was observed in the SVO group (147.75 ± 30.54 ng/ml), while the highest was found in the CE group (311.04 ± 119.15 ng/ml). Intermediate values were recorded in LAA (196.77 ± 38.97 ng/ml), undetermined etiology (176.40 ± 62.97 ng/ml), and OE (183.54 ± 32.02 ng/ml). Similarly, hs-CRP concentrations were lowest in SVO (2.28 ± 0.80 mg/L) and highest in CE (5.42 ± 1.70 mg/L), with moderate levels in LAA (3.24 ± 0.73 mg/L), undetermined (2.91 ± 1.07 mg/L), and OE (3.30 ± 0.89 mg/L). Conclusions Both ICAM-1 and hs-CRP levels were highest in the cardioembolic subtype and lowest in small vessel occlusion, indicating a more pronounced inflammatory response in cardioembolic AIS. Conflict of interest No