Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in patients with cerebrovascular diseases--a pilot study.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) was described as a novel marker of acute coronary syndrome. The aim of our study was to investigate how serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels change in patients with ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage and to evaluate if PAPP-A might be a marker not only of myocardial infarction but also a useful parameter in cerebrovascular disorders. 43 patients with acute cerebrovascular events were divided into 3 groups--patients with ischaemic stroke (n=16), patients with intracranial haemorrhage (n=10) and patients with both ischaemic stroke and coronary artery disease (n=17). The control group consisted of 12 subjects. PAPP-A was measured by TRACE (Time Resolved Amplified Cryptate Emission) technology. PAPP-A levels in patients with intracranial haemorrhage and those with both ischaemic stroke and coronary artery disease were increased in comparison with the control group (p<0.005, p<0.01, respectively) as well as with patients with ischaemic stroke only (p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). A positive correlation between PAPP-A and total cholesterol in patients with both ischaemic stroke and coronary artery disease (r=0.497, p<0.05) was observed. Serum PAPP-A levels in all studied patients correlated positively with serum creatinine (r=0.395, p<0.05). PAPP-A levels are increased in patients with intracranial haemorrhage and in the patients whose ischaemic stroke is associated with coronary artery disease. The atherosclerotic process may contribute to increased serum PAPP-A levels. PAPP-A may be a marker of increased risk of atherothrombotic events in general.