ABSTRACT
Objective Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels have been associated with transient ischemic attack, however it is still difficult to define the effect of ADMA on the clinical result of TIA patients. This article aimed to investigate the effect of ADMA levels on ischemic stroke in TIA patients. Methods This study included 288 TIA patients treated in Department of Neurology in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical College from January 2015 to December 2017. Blood ADMA was measured within 24 hours after patients’ admission. Patients were divided into low ADMA group (ADMA<0.62µmol/L, n=143) and high ADMA group (ADMA≥0.62µmol/L, n=145) according to the median blood ADMA level. The log-rank test was used to compare the survival rates of two groups. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze independent risk factors of ischemic stroke. Results In low ADMA group, 21 patients had ischemic stroke, and the stroke-free survival time was 18 (6-36) months. In high ADMA group, 32 patients had ischemic stroke, and the stroke-free survival time was 9 (3-33) months. There was a significant difference in the absence of stroke survival curves between the 2 groups (χ2=4.093, P=0.043). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that frequent TIA, high ABCD2 score, and high ADMA were independent risk factors for ischemic stroke. Conclusion Blood ADMA level is an important marker for predicting ischemic stroke in patients with TIA, which have certain significance for judging prognosis and guiding treatment.