Pentosidine, advanced glycation end product, in acute ischaemic stroke patients with and without atrial rhythm disturbances

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atherosclerotic disease are independent risk factors for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). The optimal biological marker which could allow differentiation between AF and non-AF AIS patients is still not available. Aim of the study. Aim of the present study was to investigate the role of pentosidine as a potential biological marker for AF in an AIS patient group. Materials and methods. Sixty-three acute ischaemic hemispheric stroke patients were recruited and divided into two groups according to the presumed underlying mechanism: with or without atrial rhythm disorders. Ten healthy volunteers were a reference group for serum level of pentosidine. Carotid artery ultrasound was performed, and common carotid artery stiffness and intima-media thickness were measured. Serum levels of pentosidine and selected routine biochemical risk factors for atherosclerosis (cholesterol and its lipoprotein fractions, homocysteine) were examined. Results. A higher serum level of pentosidine was observed in patients without atrial fibrillation (1,509 ± 485.13pmol/ml); a statistically significant difference was observed compared to the reference group (1,041.52 ± 411.17pmol/ml; p = 0.01), but not the AF patients (1,438.19 ± 495.97pmol/ml; p = 0.59). No significant difference in the non-AF group compared to the AF group for carotid intima-media thickness (IMT)/stiffness and pentosidine serum level was recorded. Conclusions and clinical implications. A higher serum level of pentosidine was observed in AIS patients without atrial fibrillation compared to the healthy volunteers. According to the results of the present study, no difference between these patients in the selected risk factors of atherosclerosis were observed. Further studies are needed to identify a reliable marker of AF that would bring added value to the standard diagnostic workup after acute ischaemic stroke.