The cause of stroke in women is frequently unknown, despite recognition of cardiovascular risk factors and appropriate prevention treatment. The reason may be related to unrecognized subclinical disease, which may be manifested by ongoing thrombin generation, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and abnormal responses to vascular stresses. In addition, endogenous hormones such as estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin, as well as menopausal status impact cardiovascular risk.
The aims of this K02 project are to: 1) Identify biological and physiological markers associated with ischemic stroke in women, and 2) Establish which biological and physiological markers are influenced by sex hormones and/or menopausal status in women with stroke. The working hypotheses are that women with ischemic stroke will have evidence of ongoing inflammation, thrombin generation, endothelial dysfunction, quantified by functional responses to forearm ischemia and measures of arterial stiffness, low sex hormone binding globulin, or a combination of the above processes. Using a case-control cohort design, 75 women with an ischemic stroke and 75 without ischemic stroke matched by age 2 years, menopausal status, and cardiovascular risk factors will be enrolled. Biological markers include tissue factor, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), von Willebrand Factor (vWF), and thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT). Vascular studies include brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (measure of endothelial response to ischemia), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (measure of arterial stiffness), and ankle-brachial index (measure of peripheral vascular disease). Estradiol, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and follicle stimulating hormone (for menopausal status determination) will also be measured. The significance of each marker will be assessed by plotting ROC curves for each marker, and then entering the significant markers into a multivariable model to determine the best combination of markers of stroke. Both groups of women will be followed for a minimum of two years after enrollment for any vascular outcomes, such as stroke, TIA, or acute coronary syndromes. The expected outcomes of this study will be the discovery of novel biological and vascular markers for stroke, and how endogenous sex hormones impact those markers. This could naturally lead to development of a predictive panel of markers for future stroke risk.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02)
Project #
5K02NS058760-02
Application #
7564701
Study Section
NST-2 Subcommittee (NST)
Program Officer
Jacobs, Tom P
Project Start
2008-02-15
Project End
2013-01-31
Budget Start
2009-02-01
Budget End
2010-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$179,275
Indirect Cost
Name
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
937727907
City
Winston-Salem
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27157
Bushnell, Cheryl D; Reeves, Mathew J; Zhao, Xin et al. (2014) Sex differences in quality of life after ischemic stroke. Neurology 82:922-31
Coker, Laura H; Espeland, Mark A; Hogan, Patricia E et al. (2014) Change in brain and lesion volumes after CEE therapies: the WHIMS-MRI studies. Neurology 82:427-34
Grear, Karrie E; Bushnell, Cheryl D (2013) Stroke and pregnancy: clinical presentation, evaluation, treatment, and epidemiology. Clin Obstet Gynecol 56:350-9
Tian, Yingfang; Stamova, Boryana; Jickling, Glen C et al. (2012) Effects of gender on gene expression in the blood of ischemic stroke patients. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 32:780-91
Lisabeth, Lynda; Bushnell, Cheryl (2012) Stroke risk in women: the role of menopause and hormone therapy. Lancet Neurol 11:82-91
Tian, Yingfang; Stamova, Boryana; Jickling, Glen C et al. (2012) Y chromosome gene expression in the blood of male patients with ischemic stroke compared with male controls. Gend Med 9:68-75.e3
Seguin, Rebecca; Lamonte, Michael; Tinker, Lesley et al. (2012) Sedentary Behavior and Physical Function Decline in Older Women: Findings from the Women's Health Initiative. J Aging Res 2012:271589
Zhan, X; Jickling, G C; Tian, Y et al. (2011) Transient ischemic attacks characterized by RNA profiles in blood. Neurology 77:1718-24
Mosca, Lori; Benjamin, Emelia J; Berra, Kathy et al. (2011) Effectiveness-based guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women--2011 update: a guideline from the American Heart Association. J Am Coll Cardiol 57:1404-23
Tate, Jessica; Bushnell, Cheryl (2011) Pregnancy and stroke risk in women. Womens Health (Lond) 7:363-74

Showing the most recent 10 out of 17 publications