The diagnostic value of SCUBE1 levels in acute ischemic stroke

Aim: Stroke is the third most important cause of death after coronary artery disease and cancer, and the most important among those diseases leading to disability. Recent studies have shown that early diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting to the emergency department with stroke can reduce the effect of the disease on mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of plasma SCUBE1, a novel biochemical marker thought to be capable of use in ischemic conditions, values in the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke in the emergency department. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke at the Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine Emergency Department, Turkey, between May and October, 2011, and a control group of 30 healthy volunteers were included. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to determine SCUBE-1 levels. Patient and control group plasma SCUBE1 values were compared. Results: Mean age in the patient group was 74.50 ± 10.50, and 59.93 ± 12.63 in the control group. Mean 6th hour SCUBE1 value in the patient group was 25.104 ± 15.837 ng/ml, and the mean 12th hour SCUBE1 value was 27.395 ± 14.146 ng/ml. Mean control group SCUBE1 value was 35.019 ± 22.310 ng/ml. Control group SCUBE1 values were higher than those of the patient group. Sixth hour SCUBE value was statistically significant when the patient and control groups were compared with age-adjusted values (p = 0.626). No statistically significant difference was determined between 6th and 12th hour SCUBE1 values (p = 0.334). Conclusion Plasma SCUBE1 values in acute ischemic stroke patients did not rise at significant levels compared to the control group, and are therefore not useful in the early diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke.