High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6-dominant inflammation and ischemic stroke risk: the northern Manhattan study.

Background And Purpose: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine with known autoregulatory feedback mechanisms. We hypothesized that elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) relative to IL-6 confers an increased risk of ischemic stroke (IS), and low hsCRP relative to IL-6 a decreased risk, for individuals in the prospective, multiethnic, population-based Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS).

Methods: Serum hsCRP and IL-6 were measured in NOMAS participants at baseline.

Infectious burden and carotid plaque thickness: the northern Manhattan study.

Background And Purpose: The overall burden of prior infections may contribute to atherosclerosis and stroke risk. We hypothesized that serological evidence of common infections would be associated with carotid plaque thickness in a multiethnic cohort.

Methods: Antibody titers to 5 common infectious microorganisms (ie, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus, and herpesvirus 1 and 2) were measured among stroke-free community participants and a weighted index of infectious burden was calculated based on Cox models previously derived for the association of each infection with stroke risk.

Infectious burden and risk of stroke: the northern Manhattan study.

Objective: To determine the association between a composite measure of serological test results for common infections (Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus 1 and 2) and stroke risk in a prospective cohort study.

Design: Prospective cohort followed up longitudinally for median 8 years.

Setting: Northern Manhattan Study.