Polyclonal light chains in cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

Patrizia Fiori1, Maria Giannetti Luigi2, Linda Iurato1, Carminantonio Tammaro3, Gigliola Esposito3, Antonio Monaco11Central Operative Unit of Neurology (Dir. A Monaco), 2Infantile Neuropsychiatry and Social Service (Dir. LM Giannetti), 3Laboratory (Dir. CA Tammaro), ASL AV, Civil Hospital of Ariano Irpino, University of Naples, ItalyAbstract: Altered membrane permeability is a hallmark of inflammation and ischemia with systemic spreading. Renal dysfunction is a risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and metabolic diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess proteinuria and urinary polyclonal light chains in acute stroke and chronic cerebrovascular disease compared with other neurologic diseases. Our results showed significantly increased levels of urinary polyclonal light chains in cerebrovascular disease compared with other neurologic diseases. The highest values of urinary polyclonal κ chains were found in acute stroke compared with chronic cerebrovascular disease and other neurologic diseases, while the level of λ chains was mainly increased in chronic cerebrovascular diseases. The shift to chronic renal failure seems to be signaled by a decreased polyclonal light chain/creatinemia ratio. The absence of a significant correlation with blood pressure and other seric parameters suggests that polyclonal light chains are an early marker of reversible vascular impairment with renal dysfunction before progression to irreversible renal failure and need for dialysis and/or intensive care.Keywords: polyclonal light chains, cerebrovascular disease, renal failure