Association between fibrinogen and white matter lesions and cerebral atrophy in patients with acute ischemic stroke

• Published in: Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases Vol. 33; no. 11; p. 108008
• Main Authors: Huan, Suqiu, Zhang, Shiya, Wang, Lixuan, Liu, Chenchen, Xu, Jiaping, Ge, Yilun, Huang, Zhichao, Cai, Wu, Cao, Yongjun, You, Shoujiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Cerebral atrophy; Fibrinogen; Ischemic stroke; White matter lesions; White matter lesions; Ischemic stroke; Cerebral atrophy; Fibrinogen; cerebral atrophy; white matter lesions; fibrinogen; ischemic stroke
• ISSN: 1052-3057; 1532-8511; 1532-8511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.108008

•In patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), increased fibrinogen levels were independently associated with white matter hyperintensity.•Moreover, higher levels of fibrinogen were also independently associated with increased risk of cerebral atrophy in AIS.•Fibrinogen has the potential to serve as a biomarker for identifying cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Inflammation is a potential mechanism underlying the development of white matter lesions (WMLs) and cerebral atrophy. We aimed to investigate the relationship of fibrinogen levels with WMLs and cerebral atrophy in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A total of 701 AIS patients were enrolled. Participants were divided into four groups according to the quartiles of fibrinogen levels: Q1 < 2.58 g/L, Q2: 2.58-3.12 g/L, Q3: 3.12-3.67 g/L, Q4: ≥ 3.67 g/L. White matter hyperintensity (WMH), periventricular hyperintensity (PVH) and deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) were defined according to the Fazekas scale. Cerebral atrophy was defined according to global cortical atrophy scores. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the relationship of fibrinogen levels and WMHs, PVH, DWMH and cerebral atrophy. Among 701 AIS patients, 498 (71.0 %), 425 (60.6 %), 442 (63.1 %), and 560 (79.9 %) had WMHs, PVH, DWMH and cerebral atrophy, respectively. After adjustment for potential covariates, the highest fibrinogen quartiles were significantly associated with increased risk of WMHs (odds ratio [OR] 1.97, 95 % confidence intervals [CI] 1.10-3.50), PVH (OR 1.85, 95 % CI 1.08-3.16) and cerebral atrophy (OR 2.53, 95 % CI 1.19-5.40) but not DWMH (OR 1.37 95 % CI 0.81-2.31) compared with the lowest fibrinogen quartile. Moreover, the association between elevated fibrinogen levels and the risk of WMLs and cerebral atrophy remained significant as continuous variables. Increased baseline fibrinogen levels were independently associated with WMHs, PVH and cerebral atrophy in patients with ischemic stroke. Fibrinogen could be the potential blood biomarker of WMLs and cerebral atrophy.