Study Of Serum Inflammation Associated Factors Level In Cerebral Infarction Patients With Unstable Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques

Objective: To assess the character of carotid atherosclerosis in patients withcerebral infarction and explore the possible serum markers of unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques.Method: The duplex ultrasonography was performed in the carotid arteries of allthe 88 patients with cerebral infarction located in arteriae carotis interna system diagnosed by physical examination and cranial examination with X-CT or MRI .According to the plaques' morphology and ultrasound characterization, all patients were divided into unstable plaque group , stable plaque group and nonplaque group.Serum inflammation associated factors such as high-sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP), interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),white blood cell(WBC) count and fibrinogen(FIB) were detected. 30 healthy persons were and regarded as control group.ResuIt:(1)Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were found in 70 (79.55%) patients. Unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques were detected in 36 patients(36/70), and most of which stayed in the side of cerebral infarction.The component ratio of unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques in the side of cerebral infarction was higher than that of non-infarction. The component ratio of unstable atherosclerotic carotid plaques in all cerebral infarction patients was aslo higher than that of controls.(2)Serum level of hs-CRP and IL-6 in unstable atherosclerotic plaques group were increased, and the relationship of them was positive correlation for each other. People with abnormal increased serum levelof hs-CRP and IL-6 have higher risk of existing unstableatherosclerotic carotid plaques than those with normals by risk analysis(OR=2.05 95%CI1.419~7.302: OR=3.14 95%CI 1.005-9.806). Logistic regression analysis showed that the serum level of hs-CRP and IL-6 were related to unstable atherosclerotic carotid plaques(/><0.05). ?Fluvastatin can decrease the serum level of hs-CRP and IL-6 in cerebral infarction patients with unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaque (P<0.0\).Conclusion:?The important relationship were exited between unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques and cerebral infarction. ? hs-CRP and IL-6 maybe the independent serum markers of stablility of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.The hs-CRP was superior to IL-6 for its fast> inexpensive and sensitive.?Statins drug may have the effect of anti-inflammatory and stabilizing the plaques.