The role of intima-media-thickness, ankle-brachial-index and inflammatory biochemical parameters for stroke risk prediction: a systematic review
European Journal of Neurology, 04/23/2012
Evidence Based Medicine
Clinical Article
Sander D et al. – Based on the data presented, there is clear evidence that measurement of the ankle–brachial index identifies subjects of increased stroke risk in primary and secondary care settings as well as of stroke recurrence in acute stroke.
Methods- Systematic review of the potential of selected parameters for prediction of cerebrovascular events beyond detection of traditional risk factors that might expand the repertoire of primary prevention programs in stroke.
- An absolute carotid intima-media thickness difference of 0.1 mm increases the future risk of stroke by 13–18%.
- An ankle-brachial index <0.9 was associated with a relative risk of 2.33 (95% CI 2.02–2.68) for stroke.
- In patients with acute stroke and ABI values < 0.9 the risk for a new vascular event is significantly increased (HR 2.1; 95% CI 1.6–2.8).
- Measurements of several molecular biomarkers may be used to predict future vascular events independently of traditional risk factors.
