AUTHOR=Zhang Yuling , Song Haixin , Wang Jun , Xi Xiao , Cefalo Philip , Wood Lisa J. , Luo Xun , Wang Qing Mei 

TITLE=Multiplex array analysis of serum cytokines offers minimal predictive value for cognitive function in the subacute phase after stroke

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.886018

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2022.886018

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Objective: The effects of inflammation on poststroke cognitive function are still unclear. This study investigated the correlation between the Th17 related cytokines in peripheral blood and poststroke cognitive function after ischemic stroke in the subacute phase.
Design: A retrospective cohort study.
Setting: Academic acute inpatient rehabilitation facility.
Participants: 114 first ischemic stroke patients were categorized as the poor cognitive recovery group(n=58) or good cognitive recovery group (n=56) based on their cognitive MRFS efficiency.
Interventions: All subjects received routine physical, occupational and speech-language pathology therapy.
Main Outcome Measures: Serum cytokines/chemokines (IL-1 β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17A, IL-17E, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-27, IL-28A, IL-31, IL-33, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, MIP-3 α, TNF-α, TNF-β) levels were measured in duplicate using Human Th17 magnetic bead panel and multiplex array analysis (Luminex-200 system). The primary functional outcome was a gain in functional independence measure (FIM) cognitive subscore at discharge. The secondary outcome measures were FIM total score at discharge, length of stay in the hospital, and discharge destination. Cognitive Montebello Rehabilitation Factor Score (MRFS) and Cognitive MRFS efficiency were calculated. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from the medical record.
Results:  The good cognitive recovery group had an interesting trend of higher IL-13 than the poor cognitive recovery group (good cognitive recovery group 257.82±268.76 versus poor cognitive recovery group 191.67±201.82, 𝑝=0.049, unit: pg/ml ). However, Pearson correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between cytokine levels and gain of cognition, cognitive MRFS, or cognitive MRFS efficiency. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of cytokines also suggested a low accuracy of prediction as a predictor for poststroke cognitive recovery improvement. 
Conclusion: Our preliminary findings suggested that the level of serum cytokines had minimal predictive value for recovery of cognitive function during the subacute inpatient rehabilitation after stroke.