Abstract

Background: Cyclophilin A plays a pathogenic role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, which can be assessed by measuring carotid intima-media thickness. The primary aim of this study was to examine the interaction between plasma Cyclophilin A level and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Method: Plasma concentration of Cyclophilin A was measured on admission in 66 consecutive patients who had been hospitalized for acute cerebral stroke and in 52 case-control subjects without a history of acute stroke. Subjects in both groups also underwent ultrasound B-mode imaging to measure the mean and maximum intima-media thickness of the carotid artery. Inflammatory biomarkers including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fibrinogen were also assessed.

Results: We found that the plasma concentration of Cyclophilin A was significantly higher in patients with acute ischemic stroke (p = 0.042). Increased Cyclophilin A was also correlated with carotid intima-media thickness in the patient group (p < 0.001). Among the risk factors for cerebral stroke examined in this study, only hypertension was significantly associated with plasma Cyclophilin A level.

Conclusion: Increased plasma Cyclophilin A levels might be involved in the pathophysiology of acute ischemic stroke and Cyclophilin A might serve as a biomarker in risk assessment of acute stroke patients.

Keywords: Cyclophilin A, ischemic stroke, inflammation, atherosclerosis, reactive oxygen species, carotid intima-media thickness.