BACKGROUND Inflammation plays an important role in atherosclerosis but the contribution of neutrophils to this process is unclear. We sought to assess whether neutrophil count is associated with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). METHODS A total of 2847 individuals were included in our study, including 1363 with acute ischemic stroke and 1484 normal controls without stroke. The presence of ICAS was confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography. The association between neutrophil count and ICAS was evaluated by multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Among 2847 individuals included in this study, individuals with ICAS had higher neutrophil counts than those without ICAS in groups with and without stroke (P <  0.0001 for stroke group, P = 0.0097 for group without stroke). The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the third and fourth quartiles were independent predictors of ICAS in all the subjects (Q3: OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.39-2.37, Q4: OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.70-3.10) and patients in the fourth quartile had a higher risk for the occurrence of ICAS in stroke group (Q4: OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.79-4.48). However, there was no significant association between neutrophil count and ICAS in the group without stroke. CONCLUSIONS The levels of circulating neutrophils were associated with the presence of ICAS. Our findings suggest that neutrophils may play a role in the pathogenesis of stroke related to ICAS and emphasize the need to develop proper strategies to control neutrophil response for the treatment of ICAS.

中文翻译：

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外周嗜中性粒细胞计数与颅内动脉粥样硬化狭窄的关联。

背景技术炎症在动脉粥样硬化中起重要作用，但是中性粒细胞对这一过程的贡献尚不清楚。我们试图评估中性粒细胞计数是否与颅内动脉粥样硬化狭窄（ICAS）相关。方法我们的研究共纳入2847名个体，包括1363名急性缺血性中风和1484名无中风的正常对照组。通过磁共振血管造影证实ICAS的存在。中性粒细胞计数与ICAS之间的关联通过多变量logistic回归分析进行评估。结果本研究纳入的2847名个体中，有卒中组和无卒中组中，有ICAS的中性粒细胞计数高于无ICAS的中性粒细胞计数（中风组P <0.0001，无中风组P = 0.0097）。多变量logistic回归分析显示，在所有受试者（Q3：OR 1.81，95％CI 1.39-2.37，Q4：OR 2.29，95％CI 1.70-3.10）中，第三和第四四分位数是ICAS的独立预测因子。在卒中组中，四分之四发生ICAS的风险更高（Q4：OR 2.82，95％CI 1.79-4.48）。然而，在没有中风的组中，中性粒细胞计数与ICAS之间没有显着相关性。结论循环中性粒细胞水平与ICAS的存在有关。我们的发现表明，中性粒细胞可能在与ICAS相关的中风的发病机制中起作用，并强调需要制定适当的策略来控制中性粒细胞应答以治疗ICAS。95％CI 1.39-2.37，第4季度：OR 2.29，95％CI 1.70-3.10），而在四分位数的患者中风组发生ICAS的风险更高（Q4：OR 2.82，95％CI 1.79-4.48） 。然而，在没有中风的组中，中性粒细胞计数与ICAS之间没有显着相关性。结论循环中性粒细胞水平与ICAS的存在有关。我们的发现表明，中性粒细胞可能在与ICAS相关的中风的发病机制中起作用，并强调需要制定适当的策略来控制中性粒细胞应答以治疗ICAS。95％CI 1.39-2.37，第4季度：OR 2.29，95％CI 1.70-3.10），而在四分位数的患者中风组发生ICAS的风险更高（Q4：OR 2.82，95％CI 1.79-4.48） 。然而，在没有中风的组中，中性粒细胞计数与ICAS之间没有显着相关性。结论循环中性粒细胞水平与ICAS的存在有关。我们的发现表明中性粒细胞可能在与ICAS相关的中风的发病机制中发挥作用，并强调需要制定适当的策略来控制中性粒细胞应答以治疗ICAS。无卒中组中性粒细胞计数与ICAS之间无显着相关性。结论循环中性粒细胞水平与ICAS的存在有关。我们的发现表明，中性粒细胞可能在与ICAS相关的中风的发病机制中起作用，并强调需要制定适当的策略来控制中性粒细胞应答以治疗ICAS。无卒中组中性粒细胞计数与ICAS之间无显着相关性。结论循环中性粒细胞水平与ICAS的存在有关。我们的发现表明中性粒细胞可能在与ICAS相关的中风的发病机制中发挥作用，并强调需要制定适当的策略来控制中性粒细胞应答以治疗ICAS。