Objective To investigate the predictors of early neurological deterioration (END) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods From January 2015 to April 2018, patients with AIS without receiving thrombolytic therapy and endovascular treatment admitted to the Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were collected retrospectively. END was defined as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score increased by ≥2 within 7 days after onset from baseline. The baseline clinical data, imaging examinations, and laboratory findings were compared in patients of the END group and the non-END group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of END. Results A total of 652 patients with AIS were enrolled,including 437 males (67. 0％). There were 247 patients (37. 9％) in the END group and 405 (62. 1％) in the non-END group. There were significant differences in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, homocysteine, lipoprotein (a), neutrophil percentage, and NIHSS scores between the 2 groups (all P < 0. 05). There were significant differences in the proportion of severity of stroke, serious lesion of the guilty vessels, watershed infarction, etiologic classification of stroke, Oxfordshire Community Stroke Projects classification, and taking statins before onset between the 2 groups (all P < 0. 05 ). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lipoprotein (a) (odds ratio [OR] 1. 001, 95％ confidence interval [CI] 1. 000-1. 002; P = 0. 021), total anterior circulation infarcts (OR 3. 842, 95％CI 1. 383-10. 671; P =0. 003), and partial anterior circulation infarcts (OR 2. 642, 95％CI 1. 486-4. 695; P = 0. 001) were the independent risk factors for END, and prior statin use was an independent protective factor of END (OR 0. 222, 95％CI 0. 072-0. 679; P = 0. 008). Conclusion Lipoprotein (a), total anterior circulation infarcts, and partial anterior circulation infarcts were the independent risk factors for END. Taking statins before onset was an independent protective factor of END.