Impact of cystatin C levels on infarct size and hemorrhage volume in acute cerebral stroke

Studies have indicated that serum levels of cystatin C (a sensitive marker of renal function) are significantly associated with cerebral vascular events. However, the influence of cystatin C on infarct size and hemorrhage volume in acute cerebral stroke has not been well established. A total of 222 patients with cerebral infarction, and 69 patients with cerebral hemorrhage, as well as 122 healthy controls were included in this study. Patients were further divided into subgroups according to infarct size and hemorrhage volume. Serum levels of cystatin C were significantly higher in cerebral-stroke patients than healthy controls (p < 0.05). Logistic multiple regression analyses showed that cystatin C levels were correlated with ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic cerebral stroke (p < 0.01). Cystatin C levels were correlated only with age, urea level, and creatinine level (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between cystatin C levels and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, as well as levels of fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p > 0.05). Patients with larger infarcts or larger hemorrhage volumes had higher levels of cystatin C (p < 0.05). Certain factors affect cystatin C levels in cerebral-stroke patients, and they could be considered to be independent predictors of infarct size and hemorrhage volume in acute cerebral stroke events.