Background: Ischemic stroke is caused by brain artery obstruction or narrowing called
atherosclerosis. Its marker is the thickness of tunica intima-media (intima-media thickness / IMT) of
the artery. Apolipoprotein B is the indicator of atherosclerosis diseases. Most previous studies find
association between apolipoprotein B level with cardiovascular disease, while the association
between apolipoprotein B with atherosclerosis in post ischemic stroke patients has not been studied
yet.
Objective: To investigate association between apolipoprotein B level and internal carotid artery
atherosclerosis based on thickness of intima-media in patients post ischemic stroke.
Method : This cross-sectional study was done in post ischemic stroke subjects in outpatient clinic of
Neurology Department Kariadi Hospital Semarang, during December until February 2011.
Apolipoprotein B level was measured with Integra method. The thickness of tunica intima-media of
the internal carotid artery was measured by Ultrasonografi Duplex.
Result: Fourty four patients post ischemic stroke that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria,
comprise of 22 male (50%) and 22 female (50%). Atherosclerosis was defined as tunica intimamedia
thickness >0.9 mm, was found in 24 subjects (54.6%). Apolipoprotein B level, which
designated as high (apoB >105 mg/dl), was found in 25 subjects (56.8%). Multyvariat logistics
regression test proved there was significant correlation between apolipoprotein B level with internal
carotid artery atherosclerosis (p = 0.0001).
Conclusion: Apolipoprotein B level significantly has correlation with atherosclerosis of internal
carotid artery based on thickness of intima-media in patients post ischemic stroke.
Key words: apolipoprotein B level, internal carotid artery atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke
