An MRI Hyperintense Acute Reperfusion Marker Is Related to Elevated Peripheral Monocyte Count in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose Blood-brain-barrier (BBB) disruption detected on MRI in acute ischemic stroke as a hyperintense acute reperfusion marker (HARM) is associated with upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Although activated leukocytes, including monocytes, are the main source of MMPs, limited data exists to support relationship between leukocyte activation and BBB disruption in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The goal of this study is to investigate the relationship between neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes with BBB disruption detected as HARM (+) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.