From Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Clinical Research Centre, Lund University, Sweden.
Stroke. 2017 Oct;48(10):2686-2692. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.018450. Epub 2017 Sep 13.
ECP (eosinophil cationic protein) is a marker of eosinophil activity and degranulation, which has been linked to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. We examined the relationship between ECP, carotid plaque, and incidence of stroke in a prospective population-based cohort.
The subjects participated in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study between 1991 and 1994. A total of 4706 subjects with no history of stroke were included (40% men; mean age, 57.5 years). Carotid plaque was determined by B-mode ultrasound of the right carotid artery. Incidence of stroke was followed up during a mean period of 16.5 years in relation to plasma ECP levels.
Subjects in the third tertile (versus first tertile) of ECP tended to have higher prevalence of carotid plaque (odds ratio: 1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.003-1.39; =0.044 after multivariate adjustments). A total of 258 subjects were diagnosed with ischemic stroke (IS) during follow-up. ECP was associated with increased incidence of IS after risk factor adjustment (hazard ratio, 1.57; 95% confidence interval: 1.13-2.18; for third versus first tertile; =0.007). High ECP was associated with increased risk of IS in subjects with carotid plaque. The risk factor-adjusted hazard ratio for IS was 1.86 (95% confidence interval: 1.32-2.63) in subjects with carotid plaque and ECP in the top tertile, compared with those without plaque and ECP in the first or second tertiles.
High ECP is associated with increased incidence of IS. The association between ECP and IS was also present in the subgroup with carotid plaque.
ECP（嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白）是嗜酸性粒细胞活性和脱颗粒的标志物，与动脉粥样硬化和心血管疾病有关。我们在一个前瞻性的基于人群的队列中研究了 ECP、颈动脉斑块和中风发病之间的关系。
研究对象参加了 1991 年至 1994 年的马尔默饮食与癌症研究。共纳入 4706 名无中风病史的受试者（40%为男性；平均年龄为 57.5 岁）。通过右侧颈动脉 B 型超声检查确定颈动脉斑块。在平均 16.5 年的随访期间，根据血浆 ECP 水平与中风发病情况相关联。
ECP 第三 tertile（与第一 tertile 相比）的受试者颈动脉斑块的患病率更高（比值比：1.18；95%置信区间：1.003-1.39；经多变量调整后=0.044）。随访期间共有 258 名受试者被诊断为缺血性中风（IS）。在危险因素调整后，ECP 与 IS 的发生率增加相关（危险比，1.57；95%置信区间：1.13-2.18；第三 tertile 与第一 tertile 相比；=0.007）。在有颈动脉斑块的受试者中，高 ECP 与 IS 风险增加相关。在有颈动脉斑块和 ECP 处于 top tertile 的受试者中，调整危险因素后的 IS 危险比为 1.86（95%置信区间：1.32-2.63），而无斑块和 ECP 在第一或第二 tertile 的受试者中。
高 ECP 与 IS 的发生率增加相关。ECP 与 IS 之间的关联在颈动脉斑块亚组中也存在。
