Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of three groups with different severities of acute ischemic stroke (IS).
| Variables | Mild IS (n = 66) * | Moderate IS (n = 14) * | Severe IS (n = 19) * | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average NIHSS | 3.64 ± 2.03 a | 12.21 ± 2.33 b | 23.11 ± 6.86 b | <0.001 |
| Age, year | 62.44 ± 12.08 | 65.93 ± 8.86 | 69.89 ± 10.85 | 0.094 |
| Sex (male), n (%) | 36 (54.5%) | 9 (64.3%) | 14 (73.7%) | 0.302 |
| Smoker, n (%) | 25 (37.9%) | 5 (35.7%) | 2 (10.5%) | 0.077 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 51 (77.3%) | 11 (78.6%) | 17 (89.5%) | 0.376 |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 23 (34.8%) | 7 (50.0%) | 4 (21.1%) | 0.221 |
| Dyslipidemia, n (%) | 35 (53.0%) | 2 (14.3%) | 8 (42.1%) | 0.029 |
| Old MI, n (%) | 2 (3.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (5.3%) | 1.000 |
| SBP, mmHg | 165.97 ± 30.35 | 153.07 ± 28.38 | 154.37 ± 23.25 | 0.147 |
| DBP, mmHg | 91.21 ± 17.40 | 83.86 ± 18.75 | 85.05 ± 14.81 | 0.236 |
| Old stroke, n (%) | 11 (16.7%) | 3 (21.4%) | 5 (26.3%) | 0.367 |
| Atrial fibrillation, n (%) | 6 (9.1%) | 0 (0.0%) | 5 (26.3%) | 0.499 |
| ACEI or ARB, n (%) | 35 (53.0%) | 7 (50.0%) | 5 (26.3%) | 0.119 |
| Statin, n (%) | 38 (57.6%) | 4 (28.6%) | 11 (57.9%) | 0.130 |
| WBC count, 1000/μL | 8.18 ± 2.65 | 9.11 ± 2.64 | 8.56 ± 3.01 | 0.484 |
| Segment, % | 63.52 ± 12.35 a | 74.55 ± 9.52 b | 70.83 ± 14.69 b | 0.004 |
| Lymphocyte, % | 28.39 ± 11.38 a | 18.75 ± 7.92 b | 18.50 ± 11.57 b | <0.001 |
| Hemoglobin, g/dL | 14.22 ± 1.79 | 13.91 ± 2.11 | 14.33 ± 2.80 | 0.840 |
| Platelet count, 1000/μL | 214.70 ± 76.24 | 222.36 ± 44.26 | 195.74 ± 53.32 | 0.480 |
| Creatinine, mg/dL | 1.13 ± 0.85 | 1.24 ± 1.41 | 1.37 ± 0.95 | 0.095 |
| Total cholesterol, mg/dL | 183.42 ± 49.45 | 193.36 ± 61.61 | 186.00 ± 37.22 | 0.777 |
| HDL, mg/dL | 43.29 ± 14.30 | 40.29 ± 10.22 | 47.94 ± 8.56 | 0.066 |
| LDL, mg/dL | 100.55 ± 45.79 | 118.21 ± 59.65 | 109.00 ± 37.90 | 0.400 |
| Triglyceride, mg/dL | 141.02 ± 74.35 a | 117.50 ± 52.76 a, b | 95.17 ± 47.05 b | 0.041 |
| TLR2+CD14+, % | 21.14 ± 8.20 a | 25.04 ± 8.73 a | 36.91 ± 14.30 b | <0.001 |
| TLR4+CD14+, % | 0.62 ± 2.94 a | 0.50 ± 0.51 a, b | 0.47 ± 0.53 b | 0.003 |
| Ly6g+CD14+, % | 4.96 ± 5.23 | 5.99 ± 6.05 | 7.00 ± 9.24 | 0.968 |
| MPO+CD14+, % | 14.99 ± 11.04 a | 23.20 ± 12.85 b | 32.67 ± 16.86 c | <0.001 |
| Interleukin 33 (pg/mL) | 1.92 ± 1.49 | 1.46 ± 0.71 | 3.02 ± 5.21 | 0.396 |
| ST2 (pg/mL) | 15855 ± 13056 a | 23139 ± 15194 b | 35459 ± 21030 b | <0.001 |
| 2-D echocardiography | ||||
| LVEF, % | 67.72 ± 9.40 a | 62.55 ± 11.04 a,b | 56.59 ± 11.99 b | <0.001 |
| MR (2-4), n (%) | 15 (24.2%) | 3 (23.1%) | 8 (47.1%) | 0.213 |
| Mortality, n (%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (10.5%) | 0.109 |
Data are expressed as means ± standard deviation, or n (%). Abbreviation: NIHSS, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale; IS, ischemic stroke; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure, MI, myocardial infarction; ACEI, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin II receptor blocker; WBC, white blood cell; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; TLR, toll-like receptor; MPO, myeloperoxidase; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MR, mitral regurgitation. * Mild IS (group 1), moderate IS (group 2), and severe IS (group 3) was defined as NIHSS ≤8, 9–15, and ≥16, respectively. Letters (a, b, c) indicate significance (at 0.05 level) (by Scheffé’s multiple comparison analysis).