Peripheral immune response and infection in first-time and recurrent ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Goals: The aims of this study were to determine if the infection rate differs between the first and recurrent ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), if the pattern of the peripheral immune response (PIR) differs between the first and recurrent ischemic stroke/TIA and if infection further influenced the pattern of the PIR.

Methods: Retrospective review of 500 stroke cases with strict exclusion criteria (e.g.