Background
Immune mechanisms are included in stroke pathophysiologic factors, but the frequency and role of intrathecal antibodies is unclear and diagnostic tests are not routinely performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Objective
To determine the frequency of intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis in a well-characterized cohort of patients who experienced “noninflammatory” acute stroke.
Design
Retrospective cohort study.
Setting
University hospital neurology department.
Patients
Patients (n = 318) with stroke who were undergoing lumbar puncture during diagnostic workup and 79 control patients.
Results
Cerebrospinal fluid–specific immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, and IgA) synthesis was significantly (P < .001) more frequent after stroke (24.8%) compared with the incidence in age- and sex-matched controls (2.5%). Furthermore, 31.3% of stroke patients demonstrated blood-brain barrier dysfunction and 18.1% displayed pleocytosis.
Conclusion
The strong association between CSF-specific immunoglobulin synthesis and stroke suggests a role in the development of cerebral ischemia and might constitute an immunologically defined stroke subgroup.