Albumin-Globulin Ratio and Common Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Background: The relationships between serum albumin, albumin-globulin (A/G) ratio, globulin and atherosclerosis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remain uncertain. We investigated the associations between serum albumin, A/G ratio, globulin levels and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with AIS. background: The relationships between serum albumin, albumin-globulin (A/G) ratio, globulin and atherosclerosis in the setting of ischemic stroke are unclear. Methods: A total of 1,339 AIS patients were enrolled. Admission A/G ratio was divided into quartiles, and serum albumin and globulin levels were also categorized. Carotid atherosclerosis was detected through the assessment of common carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT), and abnormal cIMT was characterized by mean and maximum cIMT values of ≥1 mm. We evaluated the relationships between A/G ratio, albumin, globulin and abnormal cIMT, using multivariable logistic regression models. objective: We aimed to evaluate the associations between serum albumin, A/G ratio, globulin levels and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with ischemic stroke. Results: In the multivariable-adjusted analysis, the highest A/G ratio quartile (Q4) was linked to a 59% decreased risk of abnormal mean cIMT (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.29-0.60) and a 58% decreased risk of abnormal maximum cIMT (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.30-0.60) when compared to the lowest quartile (Q1), respectively. Moreover, decreased albumin and elevated globulin levels were also associated with abnormal mean cIMT and maximum cIMT. In addition, the A/G ratio provided supplementary predictive capability beyond the already established risk factors, and the C-statistic of the A/G ratio for abnormal cIMT is larger than globulin (P <0.01). Conclusion: Decreased serum A/G ratio, albumin and elevated serum globulin were independently associated with abnormal cIMT in AIS patients. Moreover, the A/G ratio appeared to be a better predictor of abnormal cIMT. result: In the multivariable-adjusted analysis, the highest A/G ratio quartile (Q4) was associated with a 59% (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.29-0.60) decreased risk of having abnormal mean cIMT and 58% (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.30-0.60) decreased risk of having abnormal maximum cIMT in comparison to Q1, respectively. Moreover, decreased albumin and increased globulin levels were associated with abnormal mean cIMT and maximum cIMT. In addition, the A/G ratio provided incremental predictive capacity beyond established risk factors, and the C-statistic of A/G ratio for abnormal cIMT is larger than globulin (P<0.01). conclusion: Decreased serum A/G ratio, albumin and elevated serum globulin were independently associated with abnormal cIMT in patients with ischemic stroke. Moreover, the A/G ratio appeared to be a better predictor of abnormal cIMT. other: No