Soluble glycoprotein VI is raised in the plasma of patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background and Purpose- Ischemic stroke induced by thrombosis may be triggered by atherosclerotic plaque rupture and collagen-induced platelet activation. Collagen induces glycoprotein VI shedding. Methods- We measured plasma-soluble glycoprotein VI (sGPVI) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 159 patients with acute (<7-day) ischemic stroke and age/sex-matched community-based control subjects. Results- sGPVI was elevated in stroke compared with controls (P=0.0168). ORs were higher in Quartile 4 for stroke cases (P=0.0121), and sGPVI was significantly elevated in stroke associated with large artery disease across Quartiles 2 to 4 and small artery disease in Quartile 4. sGPVI decreased 3 to 6 months after antiplatelet treatment, consistent with elevated sGPVI due to platelet activation during the thrombotic event. sGPVI correlated with P-selectin (P=0.0007) and was higher in individuals with the GPVIa haplotype (P=0.024). CONCLUSION-: Glycoprotein VI shedding is implicated in the pathology of acute ischemic stroke.