Serum alkaline phosphatase and phosphate in cerebral atherosclerosis and functional outcomes after cerebral infarction.

OBJECTIVE

Higher serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and phosphate levels are associated with atherosclerotic disease and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, the association of ALP/phosphate with cerebral atherosclerosis and prognosis in patients with acute stroke is not well known.

METHODS

In 1034 patients with first-ever acute cerebral infarction, levels of ALP and phosphate were compared with (1) cerebral atherosclerosis and (2) poor long-term functional outcomes as defined by the modified Rankin Scale>2 at 3 months after stroke onset.

RESULTS

ALP levels were not associated with cerebral atherosclerosis. However, higher levels of ALP were associated with a poor functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio per 1 SD, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.50). Phosphate was associated with neither cerebral atherosclerosis nor functional outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher level of ALP was not associated with cerebral atherosclerosis but was an independent prognostic factor for long-term functional outcome after acute cerebral infarction.