Plasma ApoB/AI: An effective indicator for intracranial vascular positive remodeling

Shi Wang; Zhenfei Li; Xiaotong Li; Qian Gao; Xueyu Liu; Qiao Wei; Cong Guo; Xihai Zhao; Liping Chen

doi:10.1016/j.jns.2022.120226

Plasma ApoB/AI: An effective indicator for intracranial vascular positive remodeling

J Neurol Sci. 2022 May 15:436:120226. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2022.120226. Epub 2022 Mar 11.

Authors

Shi Wang¹, Zhenfei Li¹, Xiaotong Li², Qian Gao¹, Xueyu Liu¹, Qiao Wei¹, Cong Guo¹, Xihai Zhao³, Liping Chen⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Key Laboratory of Hebei Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
² Department of Radiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
³ Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
⁴ Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Key Laboratory of Hebei Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. Electronic address: chenliping301@163.com.

PMID: 35303503
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2022.120226

Abstract

Objectives: Both vascular positive remodeling and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein AI (apoB/AI) are important risk factors for ischemic stroke. However, it is unclear whether apoB/AI level plays a role in vascular positive remodeling. This study aimed to investigate the association between apoB/AI and intracranial vascular positive remodeling.

Materials and methods: Symptomatic patients with intracranial artery 30-99% stenosis were recruited and underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The levels of apolipoprotein B (apoB), apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) and apoB/AI were tested. Intracranial vascular remodeling index (RI) defined as the wall area ratio between maximal luminal narrowing and reference site was evaluated on MR images. Positive remodeling was defined as RI ≥1.05. The association between apoB/AI level and positive remodeling was respectively determined in anterior and posterior circulation.

Results: Of 65 recruited patients (mean age: 58.5 ± 10.6 years; 36 males), 25 (38.5%) had positive remodeling, of which 24 (36.9%) were in the posterior circulation group. Patients with positive remodeling had significantly higher apoB (1.0 ± 0.3 g/L vs. 0.8 ± 0.3 g/L, P = 0.003) and apoB/AI (1.0 ± 0.3 vs. 0.8 ± 0.2, P = 0.008) than those without. Univariate logistic regression showed that apoB/AI (OR: 2.302, 95%CI: 1.229-4.321, P = 0.009) was significantly associated with positive remodeling. After adjusted for confounders, the association of apoB/AI (OR: 2.935, 95%CI: 1.061-8.123, P = 0.038) with positive remodeling remained significant. ApoB/AI (OR: 76.110, 95%CI: 1.169-4953.287, P = 0.042) was significantly associated with positive remodeling in posterior circulation but not in anterior circulation.

Conclusion: ApoB/AI is a potential indicator for intracranial vulnerable atherosclerosis characterized by positive remodeling, especially in posterior circulation.

Keywords: Apolipoprotein AI; Apolipoprotein B; Atherosclerosis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Positive remodeling.

MeSH terms

Aged
Apolipoprotein A-I*
Apolipoprotein B-100
Apolipoproteins B
Female
Humans
Intracranial Arteriosclerosis* / complications
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Vascular Remodeling

Substances

APOB protein, human
Apolipoprotein A-I
Apolipoprotein B-100
Apolipoproteins B