Low ficolin-3 levels in early follow-up serum samples are associated with the severity and unfavorable outcome of acute ischemic stroke.

Background: A number of data indicate that the lectin pathway of complement activation contributes to the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. The lectin pathway may be triggered by the binding of mannose-binding lectin (MBL), ficolin-2 or ficolin-3 to different ligands. Although several papers demonstrated the significance of MBL in ischemic stroke, the role of ficolins has not been examined.

Strong complement activation after acute ischemic stroke is associated with unfavorable outcomes.

Objective: According to data from animal models, complement activation plays a major role in the brain injury after acute ischemic stroke. Scarce findings are, however, available on the detection of complement activation products in stroke patients.

Methods: We have measured plasma levels of the five complement activation products (C1rC1sC1inh, C4d, C3a, C5a and SC5b-9) in samples of 26 patients with ischemic stroke upon admission.

Long-term danazol prophylaxis does not lead to increased carotid intima-media thickness in hereditary angioedema patients.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by episodic edematous attacks due to the deficiency of the C1-inhibitor (C1-INH). Recently, we have described that the long-term use of danazol affects lipid metabolism, resulting in decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, which might lead to accelerated, early atherosclerosis. Our aim in the present study was to investigate the impact of danazol treatment on the risk of atherosclerosis in HAE patients.

Estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) PvuII and XbaI gene polymorphisms in ischemic stroke in a Hungarian population.

Background: Ischemic stroke is a multifactorial disorder with genetic and environmental components. The aim of our study was to investigate whether two polymorphisms of the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene (ESR1 c.454-397T>C and c.

Decreased frequency of the TNF2 allele of TNF-alpha -308 promoter polymorphism is associated with lacunar infarction.

Background And Purpose: Enhanced release of proinflammatory cytokines may contribute to the pathogenesis of stroke. It was examined whether G to A promoter polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene at position -308 affects the risk of stroke.

Methods: We genotyped 336 patients with ischemic stroke and 333 healthy controls for this polymorphism.