Soluble Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor Predicts All-cause 5-Year Mortality in Ischemic Stroke and TIA

In Vivo. 2017 May-Jun;31(3):381-386. doi: 10.21873/invivo.11070.

Abstract

Aim: We evaluated soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels in different stroke subtypes and assessed their prognostic value regarding 5-year outcomes.

Materials and methods: The study included 117 stroke patients (81 males; mean=age 61±11 years) with suspected cardioembolic stroke whose plasma suPAR concentration was assessed. Altogether, 20 (17.1%) patients suffered from stroke as a result of cardioembolism, 12 (10.3%) from large-artery atherosclerosis, 9 (7.7%) from small-vessel disease, 11 (9.4%) from both large-artery and cardioembolic etiology, and 65 (55.6%) had cryptogenic stroke. The mean follow-up period was 5 years.

Results: suPAR concentration was higher in patients who suffered from stroke/transient ischemic attack due to large-artery atherosclerosis (3.2±0.9 ng/ml) compared to small-vessel disease (2.0±0.5 ng/ml, p<0.001). An elevated plasma suPAR concentration was associated with all-cause mortality during the follow-up period (p=0.003).

Conclusion: Elevated plasma suPAR concentrations predicted all-cause mortality during the 5-year follow-up after ischemic stroke. suPAR was not able to differentiate patients with cardioembolic stroke from those with other stroke types.

Keywords: cardioembolic; inflammation; ischemic stroke; mortality; suPAR.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Atherosclerosis / blood
  • Atherosclerosis / mortality
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / blood*
  • Stroke / blood*
  • Stroke / mortality*
  • Stroke / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator