Predictors of GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa receptor numbers in patients with acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack by multivariate analysis.

<p>Predictors of GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa receptor numbers in patients with acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack by multivariate analysis.</p

Baseline characteristics of patients with acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack.

<p>Baseline characteristics of patients with acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack.</p

Number of GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa receptors in patients with acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack, as well as patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease and healthy volunteers by univariate and multivariate analysis.

<p>Number of GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa receptors in patients with acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack, as well as patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease and healthy volunteers by univariate and multivariate analysis.</p

Baseline characteristics of acute ischemic stroke (AIS)/transitory ischemic attack (TIA) patients.

<p>HbA_1c, glycated hemoglobin; TOAST, Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment.</p

von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels in acute ischemic stroke (AIS)/transitory ischemic attack (TIA), chronic cerebrovascular disease (CCD), and healthy volunteers (HV).

<p>The VWF levels are depicted in box-and-whisker plots indicating the first and third quartiles as well as the 1.5 interquartile range (IQR, Tukey plot). Outliers outside 1.5 IQR are visualized by single dots. VWF levels showed significant differences between the three groups. Analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc test, ***<i>P</i><0.001. d0 = day 0.</p

Predictors of von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels in acute ischemic stroke (AIS)/transitory ischemic attack (TIA) patients by univariate analysis.

<p>TOAST = Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment.</p

Predictors of von Willebrand factor levels in acute ischemic stroke (AIS)/transitory ischemic attack (TIA) patientsby multivariate analysis<b>.</b>

<p>Predictors of von Willebrand factor levels in acute ischemic stroke (AIS)/transitory ischemic attack (TIA) patientsby multivariate analysis<b>.</b></p

Reduced ADAMTS13 levels in patients with acute and chronic cerebrovascular disease

<div><p>Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) plays a major role in thrombosis and hemostasis and its thrombogenicity is controlled by ADAMTS13. Whereas increasing evidence shows a clear association between VWF levels and acute ischemic stroke, little is known about a correlation with ADAMTS13. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare plasma levels of ADAMTS13 between 85 healthy volunteers (HV), 104 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 112 patients with a chronic cerebrovascular disease (CCD). In this case-control study, plasma ADAMTS13 antigen levels were measured by ELISA and plasma VWF levels, measured previously, were next used to calculate VWF:ADAMTS13 ratios. ADAMTS13 levels and VWF:ADAMTS13 ratios were subsequently correlated with key demographic and clinical parameters. ADAMTS13 levels were significantly lower in acute ischemic stroke patients (82.6 ± 21.0%) compared with HV (110.6 ± 26.9%). Also, CCD patients (99.6 ± 24.5%) had significantly lower ADAMTS13 levels compared with HV however these were still higher than in acute stroke patients. Furthermore, when assessing the VWF:ADAMTS13 ratios, an even greater difference was revealed between stroke patients (2.7 ± 1.9), HV (1.1 ± 0.5) and CCD patients (1.7 ± 0.7). The VWF:ADAMTS13 ratio was significantly associated with stroke severity and modality. In conclusion, both in acute and chronic cerebrovascular disease patients, ADAMTS13 levels were significantly decreased, with the lowest ADAMTS13 levels found in acute stroke patients. This difference was even more distinct when the ratio of VWF:ADAMTS13 was considered. These results demonstrate the potentially important involvement of the VWF/ADAMTS13 axis in ischemic stroke.</p></div

Effect of High-Flux Dialysis on Circulating FGF-23 Levels in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients: Results from a Randomized Trial

<div><p>Background</p><p>In patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD), increased levels of circulating fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) are independently associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. Interventional strategies aiming to reduce levels of FGF-23 in HD patients are of particular interest. The purpose of the current study was to compare the impact of high-flux versus low-flux HD on circulating FGF-23 levels.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We conducted a post-hoc analysis of the MINOXIS study, including 127 dialysis patients randomized to low-flux (n = 62) and high-flux (n = 65) HD for 52 weeks. Patients with valid measures for FGF-23 investigated baseline and after 52 weeks were included.</p><p>Results</p><p>Compared to baseline, a significant increase in FGF-23 levels after one year of low-flux HD was observed (Delta plasma FGF-23: +4026 RU/ml; p < 0.001). In contrast, FGF-23 levels remained stable in the high flux group (Delta plasma FGF-23: +373 RU/ml, p = 0.70). The adjusted difference of the absolute change in FGF-23 levels between the two treatment groups was statistically significant (p < 0.01).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Over a period of 12 months, high-flux HD was associated with stable FGF-23 levels, whereas the low-flux HD group showed an increase of FGF-23. However, the implications of the different FGF 23 time-trends in patients on high flux dialysis, as compared to the control group, remain to be explored in specifically designed clinical trials.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) <a href="https://drks-neu.uniklinik-freiburg.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML#x0026;TRIAL_ID=DRKS00007612" target="_blank">DRKS00007612</a>.</p></div

Flow chart of the MINOXIS study.

<p>Flow chart of the MINOXIS study.</p