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Research Article - (2021) Volume 12, Issue 2

The Relationship between Serum Uric Acid Level and Ischemic Stroke and its Subtypes

Nurhan Kaya Tutar1*, Hayriye Kucukoglu2 and Ayhan Koksal2

1Department of Neurology, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

2Department of Neurology, Bakırkoy Training and Research Hospital for Neurologic and Psychiatric Diseases, Istanbul, Turkey

*Corresponding Author:
Tutar NK
Department of Neurology
Bagcilar Research and Training Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +905432208076
E-mail: nurhantutar@gmail.com

Received Date: January 06, 2021; Accepted Date: February 18, 2021; Published Date: February 25, 2021

Citation: Tutar NK, Kucukoglu H, Koksal A (2021) The Relationship between Serum Uric Acid Level and Ischemic Stroke and its Subtypes. J Neurol Neurosci Vol.12 No.2:5

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Abstract

Objective: Uric acid (UA) is a molecule known as an antioxidant. However, studies conducted in recent years indicate that elevated serum UA levels are an independent risk factor for stroke. The aim of our study is to determine the relationship between UA and acute ischemic stroke and subtypes.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 110 patients with acute ischemic stroke within the first 24 hours who were admitted to Bakirkoy Prof Dr. Mazhar Osman, Mental and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital (Istanbul, Turkey) between August 2016 and August 2017. The control group was composed of 82 healthy volunteers who were compatible with the patient group in terms of age and gender. Serum UA levels were estimated and stroke subtypes were determined by Bamford classification according to clinical findings and TOAST classification according to etiology.

Results: Mean serum UA levels were found 5,5 mg/dL in the patient group versus 4,8 mg/dL in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between patients and controls (p<0,0019). As for the stroke subtypes, elevated serum UA was found to be associated with all stroke subtypes except lacunar stroke according to Bamford classification and small vessel disease according to TOAST classification. In Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis, serum UA levels higher than 5,6 mg/dL were identified as independent risk factors for ischemic stroke.

Conclusion: In our study, high UA levels were seen as an independent risk factor for stroke. Determination of UA as an etiological factor responsible for the pathogenesis of vascular diseases including stroke may also bring the treatment of hyperuricemia such as hyperlipidemia or hypertension, which are routinely treated after stroke.

Keywords

Ischemic stroke; Uric acid; Vascular risk factors; Bamford; Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST)

Abbreviations

SM: Stroke Mimics, MS: Missed Strokes, ED: Emergency Department, ICH: Intra-Cranial Haemorrhage, IS: Ischaemic Stroke, DWI: Diffusion- Weighted Imaging, NCCT: Non-Contrast CT Scans, OR: Odds Ratios, NIHSS: National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, AF: Atrial Fibrillation, DM: Diabetes Mellitus, IHD: Ischaemic Heart Disease.

Introduction

Stroke is the second largest cause of death worldwide after ischemic heart disease and the first cause of death among all neurological diseases [1]. It is also responsible for a global disease burden due to its high morbidity [2]. The main way to prevent stroke is to identify and eliminate the risk factors in its etiology. Age, gender, race, and family history are unchangeable risk factors in the development of stroke. Hypertension (HT), smoking, hyperlipidemia (HL), diabetes mellitus (DM), and atrial fibrillation (AF) have been identified as definite modifiable risk factors for stroke [3]. However, studies are ongoing to understand modifiable risk factors. As a result of these studies, it is suspected that there are new etiological factors that may be responsible for stroke. One of these factors is the serum UA level, which has been discussed for a long time.

Uric acid (UA) is the end-product of purine metabolism in humans. Although the molecule itself has protective properties, it may acquire the opposite feature at high levels in serum. When serum UA levels exceed the threshold value [7.0 mg/ dL], it rapidly crystallizes and collapses in joint, kidney, and vascular structures [4]. Gout is the main disease associated with hyperuricemia, but there are studies suggesting that it is also involved in the etiology of various clinical diseases such as systemic inflammation, metabolic syndrome, preeclampsia, hypertension, kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus [5,6]. Regarding the relationship between hyperuricemia and stroke is contradictory. Although studies on the causality of UA and stroke have been ongoing for years, a consensus has not yet been reached. There are clinical studies suggesting that UA may be neuroprotective. A meta-analysis including 10 studies showed that serum UA level has a protective effect on neurological outcomes after acute ischemic stroke, and high UA level at onset is a biomarker of better prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke [7]. Furthermore, it has been reported that UA administration is neuroprotective in rats after transient brain ischemia and can increase the benefits of alteplase [8]. In contrast, there are studies showing that UA is an independent risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and a poor prognostic factor in the literature [9,10] With the relevance of cerebrovascular disease and hyperuricemia, endothelial dysfunction has been discussed as the underlying mechanism [11]. There is a limited number of studies investigating the relationship between ischemic stroke subtypes and UA. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between UA and acute ischemic stroke and subtypes.

Research Methodology

Study design

110 ischemic stroke patients (Male: Female = 69:41), presenting with new stroke evaluated in the stroke clinic of Bakirkoy Prof Dr. Mazhar Osman, Mental and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital (Istanbul, Turkey) between August 2016 and August 2017 were included in the study retrospectively. Informed consent was obtained from all participants in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration. The study was approved by the ethical committee of the study hospital. All patients were examined by a qualified neurologist, and ischemic stroke was differentiated by computer tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients with active infection, neoplasia, GUT disease, renal or liver disease, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, excessive alcohol consumption, or use of drugs that affect serum UA levels such as steroids, colchicine and allopurinol were excluded from this study. As a control group, 83 healthy individuals matched for sex and age was recruited from the same demographic area. The control group consisted of patients who applied to the neurology outpatient clinic with headache symptoms and had no neurological disease. The controls had no clinical evidence of any cerebrovascular disease.

Serum urate was measured with standard analytical methods in our hospital biochemistry department and hyperuricemia was defined as a serum urate concentration >7 mg/dL for men and 5,7 mg/dL >for women. The record of risk factors included the following: arterial hypertension (HT ) (treated or systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg or diastolic > 90 mmHg in repeated measures), diabetes mellitus (DM) (treated or fasting glucose ≥ 110 mg/dL at least in 2 separate analyses), dyslipidemia (treated or ≥ 240 mg/dL), coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, bypass operation, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, AF), smoking (> 5 cigarettes per day), alcohol intake (> 2 drinks per day) [3].

Ischemic stroke was classified as large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, small vessel occlusion, stroke of other determined etiology, and stroke of undetermined etiology according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) which based on the etiology [12]. In addition, Bamford classification was used as total anterior circulation infarction (TACI), partial anterior circulation infarction (PACI), lacunar circulation infarction (LACI), posterior circulation infarction (POCI) according to the stroke clinic [13].

Statistical analysis

SPSS 22.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, New York, United States) and Medcalc 14 (Acacialaan 22, B-8400, Ostend, Belgium) programs were used in the analysis of variables. The compliance of the data to normal distribution was evaluated with the Shapiro-Wilk test and the variance homogeneity with the Levene test. Independent-Samples T test was used together with Bootstrap results, while Mann-Whitney U (Exact) test was used together with Monte Carlo results in comparing two independent groups to each other according to quantitative data. Spearman's rho test was used to examine the correlations of variables with each other. In comparing categorical variables with each other, Pearson Chi-Square and Fisher Exact tests were tested with exact results. Odds ratios were calculated to examine the rate at which those with a risk factor develop the disease (or the occurrence of an event) relative to those who do not. Logistic regression test was used with the backward method to determine the cause - effect relationship of the categorical response variable with the explanatory variables in binary (diotome) and multiple (multinominal) categories. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictivity, and negative predictivity values of the cut-off value calculated according to the variables of the patient groups were examined and expressed by ROC (Receiver Operating Curve) curve analysis. The continuous quantitative variables are expressed as mean and standard deviation (SD) and categorical variables as n (%). Variables were analyzed at a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

In the patient group, 62.7% (n: 69) were male and the mean age was 63.30 ± 14.21 years (25-95). 62.7% (n: 52) of the control group were male and the mean age was 61,87 ± 11,75 years (30-78). Serum UA levels were elevated in 29,09% of the patient group and 12,04% of the control group (>5,7 mg/dL in women, >7 mg/dL in men) (Table 1). Mean serum UA level was 5,5 mg/dL in the patient group and 4,8 mg/dL in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p <0.0019) (Table 1). The cut-off value for UA was 5,6 mg/dL (odds ratio: 3,74, sensitivity 49%, specificity 79%, P<0.001) (Table 2). In Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis, serum UA levels higher than 5,6 mg/dL were identified as independent risk factors for ischemic stroke. (Table 3).

Age Control (n=83)
N (%)
Mean ± SD
Max.-Min.
Patient (n=110)
N (%)
Mean ± SD
Max.-Min.
P-value
61,87 ± 11,
75/78-30
63,30 ± 14,
21/95-25
Gender (Male: Female) 52/31 69/41  -
HT 19 (22,9) 57 (51,8)° <0,001
3,6 (1,9-6,8)*
DM 23 (27,7) 40 (36,4) 0,219
HL 21 (25,3) 49 (44,5)° 0,007
2,4 (1,3-4,4)*
AF 4 (4,8) 31 (28,2)° <0,001
7,6 (2,6-22,9)*
CAD 8 (9,6) 23 (20,9)° 0,047
2,5 (1,05-5,9)*
Recurrent Stroke history 0 (0,0) 5 (4,5) 0,071
Tobacco smoking 0 (0,0) 9 (8,2)° 0,011
15,6 (0,9-272,5)*
VHD 0 (0,0) 1 (0,9) 1
Obesity 1 (1,2) 1 (0,9) 1
Anemia 0 (0,0) 1 (0,9) 1
Presence of at least 1 Vascular Risk Factor 49 (59,0) 94 (85,5) <0,001
4,1 (2,1-8,1)*
Number of Vascular Risk factor Median (Max.-Min.) Median (Max.-Min.)  -
1 (3-0) 2 (6-0) <0,001
Hyperuricemia 10 (12,04) 32 (29,09)  -
URIC ACID LEVEL 4,8 (9,4-2,3) 5,5 (11-2,8) <0,001

Independent T-test (Bootstrap), Mann Whitney U Test (Monte Carlo), Pearson Chi Square Test (Exact), Fisher Exact Test(Exact), *Odss Ratio (95% Confidential Interval), SD: Standard Deviation, Max.: Maximum, Min.: Minimum
HT: Hypertension, DM: Diabetes Mellitus, HL: Hyperlipidemia, AF: Atrial Fibrillation, CAD: Coronary Artery Disease, VHD: Valvular Heart Disease, N: Number

Table 1: Clinical characteristics of stroke patients and controls.

Cut-Off Control Patient
n NPV % Specificity % n PPV % Sensitivity %
= 5,6 66 54,1% 79,5% 56 45,9% 50,9%
>5,6 17 23,9% 20,5% 54 76,1% 49,1%

ROC: Receiver Operating Curve Analysis (Honley & Mc Nell - Youden index J) AUC: Area under the ROC Curve SE: Standard Error C.I.: Confidence Interval

Table 2: Cut-off values for uric acid.

Variables B S.D. P value Odss Ratio Odss Ratio 95% C.I
Minimum Maximum
AF 2,497 0.605 <0.001 12,140 3,710 39,725
HL 1,406 0.416 0.001 4,079 1,806 9,214
Uric acid level
(>5.6 mg/dL)
1,134 0.398 0.004 3,107 1,424 6,781
Constant -2,397 0.440 <0.001 0,091  -  -

Multiple Logistic Regression (Method = Backward Stepwise (Wald)), C.I.: Confidence Interval, B: Regression coefficients, SD: Standard deviation, AF: Atrial Fibrillation, HL: Hyperlipidemia

Table 3: Risk factors for ischemic stroke.

According to the Bamford classification, the mean UA level was 7,25 mg/dL in TACI, 5,94 mg/dL in PACI, 5,83 mg/dL in POCI, and 5,33 mg/dL in LACI. The UA levels were higher than the cutoff value determined in the study in all subgroups except LACI subgroup. In paired comparisons, a significant difference was found between clinical stroke subtypes in terms of UA levels (p: 0,039). It was statistically significantly higher in the TACI group compared to all other subgroups (Table 4).

Bamford Classification n Serum uric acid level
Mean ± SD
LACI =I 26 5,33 ± 1,71
PACI =II 46 5,94 ± 1,75
POCI =III 27 5,83 ± 1,69
TACI =IV 11 7,25 ± 2,20
P value (General) 0,031
P values for Binary Comparisons I?II 0,161
I?III 0,304
I?IV 0,003
II?III 0,795
II?IV 0,029
III?IV 0,027

One-Way ANOVA Test, Post Hoc Test: Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (LSD), LaCI: Lacunary Infarcts, PACI: Partial Anterior Circulation Infarcts, PoCI: Posterior Circulation Infarcts, TACI: Total Anterior Circulation Infarcts, N: Number of patients, SD: Standard Deviation

Table 4: Serum uric acid level analysis in subtypes according to Bamford classification.

According to the TOAST classification, the mean UA level was 6,29 mg/dL in large vessel disease, 5,83 mg/dL in cardioembolics, 5,18 mg/dL in small vessel disease, and 6,01 mg/dL in those whose cause was unknown. UA levels were higher than the cut-off value determined in all subgroups except small vessel disease. However, there was no significant difference in UA levels between the etiological subgroups (p: 0.181) (Table 5).

TOAST Classification N Serum uric acid level
Mean ± SD
Atherosclerosis of large arteries 33 6,29 ± 1,90
Cardio-embolism 25 5,83 ± 1,64
Complete blockage of small vessels 19 5,18 ± 1,48
Other determined causes 0 0
Undetermined causes 29 6,01 ± 1,86
p value 0,181

TOAST: Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment, N: Number of patients, SD: Standard Deviation

Table 5: Serum uric acid level analysis in subtypes according to TOAST classification.

Discussion

Although UA is the most important antioxidant agent in animal models, results from human studies are controversial. Many epidemiological studies have reported a significant association between UA and increased stroke risk. In the Apolipoprotein Mortality Risk Study (AMORIS) by Holme et al., increased UA level was found to be a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and stroke [14]. In a meta-analysis of 16 prospective cohort studies involving 230,000 patients, a mild but statistically significant relationship was found between UA levels and stroke incidence and mortality [15]. Besides, in a study conducted by Weir et al., serum UA levels were found to be associated with a poor clinical course in ischemic stroke [10]. In our study, UA level was found to be significantly higher in patients with ischemic stroke who presented within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms and suggested that high UA level was an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke. AF and HL were determined as other risk factors for ischemic stroke in our study.

There is no consensus on the serum uric acid threshold value for the definition of hyperuricemia. It has been shown pathophysiologically that it reaches supersaturation in serum above 6.8 mg/dL whereas guidelines for the treatment of gout recommend the therapeutic target for serum UA as 6 mg/dL [16]. This may suggest a stricter serum level control is needed in clinical practice. In an article published in 2014, it was concluded that UA levels higher than 6 mg / dL pose a risk for cardio-nephrometabolic disease and suggested that the values determined for hyperuricemia should be revised again [17]. In our study, the threshold value was much lower, and a serum UA level above 5.6 mg/dL increased the risk of stroke up to five times.

There are a limited number of studies investigating the variability between UA levels according to stroke subtypes. In a study using TOAST classification, it was shown that serum UA levels were elevated in all stroke subtypes except lacunar stroke [18]. In another study, the relationship between elevated UA levels and non-embolic stroke was examined, but no relationship was found [19]. However, Yang et al. showed an association between serum UA and cardio-embolic stroke in patients with acute ischemic stroke in the same classification [20]. In our study, according to Bamford classification, the UA level was higher than the determined cut-off value in all subgroups except LACI. It was statistically significantly higher in the TACI group compared to all other subgroups. When evaluated according to TOAST classification, the UA value was above the determined cut-off value in all groups except the small vessel disease subgroup. There was no significant difference when the groups were compared with each other. The highest UA levels seen in the TACI group according to clinical classification, which has a higher mortality, could be a sign that hyperuricemia may be a poor prognostic factor. In the etiological classification, the absence of hyperuricemia in the small vessel disease group, where the clinic is relatively mild, may also suggest the existence of a relationship with prognosis.

Whether UA is neuroprotective as an antioxidant or neurotoxic as an oxidant is an ongoing scientific debate in recent years. The antioxidant properties of UA have been known for a long time. However, the presence of intracellular oxygen, electrically active particle diversity, the presence of other pro-and antioxidant enzymes, various metals, and similar factors can change the prooxidant/ antioxidant properties of UA [21,22]. UA can gain free radical properties through these complex mechanisms and lead to oxidative stress-related diseases. However, the causality between stroke and UA is difficult to understand. Proctor draws attention to contrasting situations in which hyperuricemia is considered as a secondary protective response against atherosclerosis (antioxidant) or whether high UA levels develop atherosclerosis (pro-oxidant) in his articles [23,24]. The fact that the data in our study were obtained in the first 24 hours of stroke reinforces the idea that UA is a cause rather than a result in the context of stroke.

Conclusion

In our study, high UA levels are seen as an independent risk factor for stroke. It is essential to identify possible risk factors for stroke and to treat those that can be modified. Determination of UA as an etiological agent responsible for the pathogenesis of vascular diseases including stroke may bring the treatment of hyperuricemia such as dyslipidemia and hypertension routinely treated after stroke. Further randomized controlled studies to understand the relationship between serum UA and stroke are needed.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no financial or other conflicts of interests in relation to this research and its publications.

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