Association between plasma Klotho protein level and lacunar cerebral infarction in the elderly

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association between plasma Klotho protein level and lacunar cerebral infarction in the elderly. Methods Eighty eight patients with lacunar cerebral infarction aged over 60 years were selected as the observation group, and 90 age- and gender- matched elderly patients without lacunar infarction as the control group. The protein level of Klotho was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Klotho protein level was compared between the observation and control groups. The correlation between plasma Klotho level and lacunar infarction in elderly patients was analyzed. Results Compared with the control group, lacunar infarction group showed that Klotho protein level was decreased 〔(689.4±40.8) ng/L vs. (848.5±38.7) ng/L, P=0.009〕, and the proportion of patients with hypertension was increased (83.0% vs. 66.7%, P=0.04). There was no significant difference in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease between the two groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the low plasma level of Klotho protein and hypertension were identified as the independent risk factors for Lacunar infarction (OR=3.325 and 2.413, P=0.003 and 0.021, respectively). Conclusions Klotho protein level may be associated with lacunar cerebral infarction in elderly people. Monitoring plasma Klotho protein level has an important clinical significance in the prevention, diagnosis and prognosis of lacunar cerebral infarction. Key words: Klotho protein; Brain infarction; Risk factors