The Association between Serum Matricellular Protein: Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine-Like 1 Levels and Ischemic Stroke Severity.

BACKGROUND

The role of matricellular proteins like secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine-like 1 (SC1) has been shown in important functions in the central nervous system, including the regulation of synaptic stability with upregulation throughout axonal regeneration. The aim of this study was to determine whether SC1 is related to ischemic stroke severity.

METHODS

A total of 132 consecutively recruited patients admitted for acute ischemic stroke were included in this observational prospective study. Stroke severity was evaluated in the National Institutes of Health (NIHSS) scale on hospital admission.

RESULTS

There was a positive correlation between SC1 levels and NIHSS score (r = .22, P = .009). Compared with patients with NIHSS scores lower than 5 at admission, patients with moderate and severe stroke (NIHSS ≥ 6) had significantly higher SC1 levels: 4.84 (2.53-11.58) ng/mL versus 3.31 (1.67-8.95) ng/mL (P = .01). SC1 was an independent predictor of stroke severity at admission (adjusted odds ratio =1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.97; P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

SC1 levels were independently associated with ischemic stroke severity evaluated by the NIHSS.