Ischemia-modified albumin and fibulin-5 as diagnostic and prognostic markers for acute cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

Abstract Background Fibulin-5 and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels increase in acute phase of cerebrovascular diseases, yet data regarding their levels in various stroke subtypes and correlation with severity and prognosis are still insufficient. This work aims to evaluate serum IMA and fibulin-5 as markers for early detection and predicting prognosis in acute cerebrovascular disease. Method This case-control study was done on 100 patients with first time stroke, assessed by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) within the first 24 h after stroke event, lesion volume was calculated, serum fibulin-5 and IMA levels were measured in the first few hours of stroke, and their levels were compared with levels measured in 75 control subjects. Three months later, stroke patients were assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (MRS). Results Fibulin-5 and IMA were significantly higher in the patient than in the control group and were positively correlated with lesion volume and NIHSS score but inversely correlated with GCS score. Fibulin-5 was statistically higher in hemorrhage group, whereas IMA was statistically higher in infarction group. MRS score was positively correlated with fibulin-5 levels at onset of stroke but not with IMA. Conclusion Fibulin-5 and ischemia-modified albumin are increased during the acute stroke phase and correlated with severity of stroke, but only fibulin-5 shows significant correlation with prognosis.