Association of cerebral microbleeds in acute ischemic stroke with high serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Objective: To determine whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are associated with the presence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in patients after acute ischemic stroke.

Design: A cross-sectional study that used blood samples obtained within 24 hours of symptom onset from patients who experienced acute stroke to measure VEGF levels by enzyme immunoassay. A validated CMB rating scale was used to analyze acutely acquired magnetic resonance images, with the rater blind to clinical details and VEGF levels.

Setting: Accident and Emergency Department at University College Hospital, London, England.

Patients: Twenty patients who experienced acute ischemic stroke.

Main outcome measures: Presence of CMBs and serum level of VEGF.

Results: Five of the 20 patients with acute ischemic stroke (25%) had CMBs. The median VEGF level in the CMB group was significantly higher than that in the group without CMBs (P = .003).

Conclusion: An increase in vascular permeability secondary to a raised VEGF level may have a role in the genesis of CMBs in patients with acute ischemic stroke.