Objective: Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and serum level of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected to investigate their distributions between patients with stable stroke and those with asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis and to explore their clinical significance.
Methods: The mean level of the serum hs-CRP of the group with recurrent stroke (2.34 mg/L) was the highest, followed by that of the group with the stable stroke (1.45 mg/L), asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis (1.31 mg/L) and control group (0.96 mg/L) (P = 0.001). The level of the MMP-9 was in sequence of recurrent stroke group (121.82 ± 72.99) µg/L > asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis group (119.18 ± 80.01) µg/L > stable stroke group (112.76 ± 59.66) µg/L, while no statistical significance was found among groups (P = 0.947). However, the level of MMP-9 of three patient groups (118.08 ± 71.06) µg/L was significant higher than control group (57.55 ± 10.44) µg/L (P < 0.001). The spearman analysis for the relationship showed that the concentration of MMP-9 was positively associated with that of hs-CRP (r = 0.337, P < 0.001).
Conclusions: The hs-CRP maintained a high level in stable stage of stroke. The MMP-9 level in the patients group was significant higher than control group and the level of MMP-9 was positively associated with that of hs-CRP which suggested MMP-9 might be correlated with atherosclerosis other than stroke occurrence.