Pentraxin (PTX) 3 is a typical long PTX. As an inflammatory marker, the plasma PTX3 level is elevated in atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, infection, inflammation, autoimmune disease and tissue injury. Recently studies have shown that the plasma PTX3 level rapidly increased during the acute phase of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Detection of plasma PTX3 level may be contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and prognostic judgment of acute cerebral infarction.

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the association between plasma Pentraxin 3(PTX3) levels with acute ischemic stroke and carotid artery atherosclerosis.Methods We enrolled 103 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS)and 83 control subjects.The levels of plasma PTX3 were measured by using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at admission and after 7 days treatment in the AIS group.The carotid artery plaques in the AIS group were detected by using Color Doppler Ultrasound.Patients with AIS were divided into two groups according to the stability of carotid artery atherosclerosis plaques.The association between plasma PTX3 levels with acute ischemic stroke and the stability of carotid artery atherosclerosis plaques was examined.Results ① The plasma PTX3 levels were significantly higher in the AIS group than in the control group (P＜0.05).After 7 days standard treatment,the plasma PTX3 levels in AIS group were significantly decreased (P＜0.05),but still higher than those in control group (P＜0.05).Multivariable logistic regression suggested that the plasma PTX3 levels had a close relationship with AIS (OR=15.043,95％CI:3.46～65.45,P＜0.001).② In the AIS group,the plasma PTX3 levels before and after treatment were significantly higher in unstable plaque group than in no plaque and stable plaque group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The plasma PTX3 levels are higher in patients with acute ischemic stroke.The plasma PTX3 levels are significantly higher in AIS group with unstable plaque.The plasma PTX3 levels are closely associated with acute ischemic stroke.