Systemic biomarker associated with poor outcome after futile reperfusion

Background: Successful recanalization does not lead to complete tissue reperfusion in a considerable percentage of ischemic stroke patients. This study aimed to identify biomarkers associated with futile recanalization. Leukoaraiosis predicts poor outcomes of this phenomenon. Soluble tumour necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK), which is associated with leukoaraiosis degrees, could be a potential biomarker.

Methods: This study includes two cohorts of ischemic stroke patients in a multicentre retrospective observational study. Effective reperfusion, defined as a reduction of ≥8 points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within the first 24 h, was used as a clinical marker of effective reperfusion.

Results: In the first cohort study, female sex, age, and high NIHSS at admission (44.7% vs. 81.1%, 71.3 ± 13.7 vs. 81.1 ± 6.7; 16 [13, 21] vs. 23 [17, 28] respectively; p < .0001) were confirmed as predictors of futile recanalization. ROC curve analysis showed that leukocyte levels (sensitivity of 99%, specificity of 55%) and sTWEAK level (sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 88%) can discriminate between poor and good outcomes. Both biomarkers simultaneously are higher associated with outcome after effective reperfusion (OR: 2.17; CI 95% 1.63-4.19; p < .0001) than individually (leukocytes OR: 1.38; CI 95% 1.00-1.64, p = .042; sTWEAK OR: 1.00; C I95% 1.00-1.01, p = .019). These results were validated using a second cohort, where leukocytes and sTWEAK showed a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 66.7% and 75% respectively.

Conclusions: Leukocyte and sTWEAK could be biomarkers of reperfusion failure and subsequent poor outcomes. Further studies will be necessary to explore its role in reperfusion processes.