Changes of thrombomodulin and nitric oxide synthase in patients with acute ischemic stroke and their significance

Objective To explore the changes of thrombomodulin (TM) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and their predictive value in early neurological deterioration (END).

Methods A total of 90 AIS patients with onset of disease within 24 hours were retrospectively analyzed, receiving clinical endovascular treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and spectrophotometry were used to determine the levels of TM and NOS in patients with AIS before and after treatment, and the clinical data of the patients were collected. The patients were divided into END group (n=29, scoring ≥ 15) and non-END group(n=61, scoring < 15) according to the score of Neurological Deficit Scale (NDS). Univariate analysis was performed on the influencing factors of the occurrence of END in AIS patients, and the independent risk factors of the occurrence of END in AIS patients were identified by Logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of TM and NOS levels for the occurrence of END in AIS patients.

Results After treatment, the levels of TM and NOS in the END group were (16.07±3.69) IU/mL and (30.21±4.60) U/mL, respectively, which were higher than (12.37±2.97) IU/mL and (25.27±3.72) U/mL in the non-END group (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that the patients in the END group had older age, longer time from onset to admission, and higher levels of TM and NOS compared with the non-END group (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥ 65 years, long duration from onset to hospitalization, and high levels of TM and NOS were risk factors for the occurrence of END in AIS patients(P < 0.05). ROC curve showed that the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve(AUC) of TM level in predicting the occurrence of END in AIS patients were 61.28%, 86.19%, and 0.779, respectively; the sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of NOS level in predicting the occurrence of END in AIS patients were 68.64% and 84.29%, and 0.724 respectively.

Conclusion Serum levels of TM and NOS in AIS patients with END are higher, and TM and NOS can be used as biological indicators to predict the occurrence of END in AIS patients.