Metabolic biomarkers in the diagnostics of intracranial atherosclerosis

Abstract

Summary. Introduction. Cerebral atherosclerosis is based on the prevailing number of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Intracranial athero- sclerosis (ICAS) is the most common cause of ischemic cerebral circulation disorders worldwide. Taking into account the complexity of ICAS diagnosis, various methods for identifying the pathological process at the earliest stages are being actively developed. Aim: to determine the diagnostic value of metabolic biomarkers in detecting ICAS among patients with CVD. Materials and Methods. A singlestage cross-sectional observational study involving 120 patients with atherosclerotic lesions of the cerebral arteries was conducted at the Russian Center of Neurology and Neuroscience. All patients underwent detailed clinical and laboratory studies using specialized scales and calculation formulas of integral metabolic biomarkers: triglyceride-glucose index (TGI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), and body fat percentage (BFP). Results. Statistically significant differences were found depending on the level of atherosclerotic lesion (intracranial or extracranial) for the following integral metabolic biomarkers: TGI (4.92 ± 0.27 vs. 4.65 ± 0.27; p < 0.001); LAP (67.00 [44.00; 93.25] vs. 37.45 [24.88; 61.45]; p < 0.001); VAI (1.98 [1.25; 2.58] vs. 1.45 [0.81; 1.82]; p = 0.005). Markers such as TGI, LAP, and VAI in men had the best combination of sensitivity/specificity during ROC analysis in relation to ICAS identification. Conclusion. The introduction of integrative metabolic biomarkers into clinical practice can improve ICAS identification at early stages of diagnosis, as well as to stratify patients with CVD requiring more detailed instrumental examination using high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging.

For citation: Tanashyan M.M., Mazur A.S., Raskurazhev A.A., Antonova K.V. Metabolic biomarkers in the diagnostics of intracranial atherosclerosis. Tromboz, gemostaz i reologiya. 2025;(4):49–58. (In Russ.).

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