Background: Human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is widely used as tumor marker. Striking similarities have been reported between process of tumor genesis and atherosclerotic diseases. CEA has been reported as a useful biomarker for diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome whose main pathogenesis mechanism is rupture of atherosclerotic plaque. Although same pathogenic mechanism leads to ischemic stroke, the role of CEA in stroke has not been studied. This study was aimed at evaluating role of CEA as diagnostic marker for acute atherosclerotic ischemic stroke. Methods: Sixty male subjects between 40 to 60 years of age were divided into 2 groups with 30 subjects each: Group A (ischemic stroke) and Group B (age and sex matched healthy controls). Exclusion criteria for Group A included diabetes mellitus, heavy smoking, recent cerebrovascular or myocardial events. The blood sample was taken not later than 24 hours of onset of stroke in Group A. In Group B, the blood samples were drawn at the time of enrollment in the study. CEA levels were estimated using double sandwich ELISA method. Results: The mean (SE) serum CEA levels in healthy controls and ischemic stroke patients were 0.95(0.11) and 5.57 (0.20) ng/mL respectively (p<0.001). After adjusting for confounders such as total leucocytes count, waist hip ratio, hypertension and smoking mean (SE) were 1.38 (1.23) and 5.26 (0.85) ng/ml respectively (p<0.001). Conclusions: Patients with ischemic stroke have raised level of CEA. CEA is a promising novel biomarker for diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Stroke