Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and LDL cholesterol are associated with outcomes of minor stroke and TIA

Abstract Background and aims Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) levels are thought to be related to recurrent stroke. However, the joint association of circulating LDL and oxLDL levels with the outcomes of acute minor ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) remains unclear. The goal of the study was to evaluate whether LDL and oxLDL have a combined effect on outcomes of acute minor stroke and TIA. Methods In the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients With Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial, a subgroup of 3019 patients with baseline oxLDL and LDL levels were analyzed. Patients were divided into four groups according to different combinations of LDL (LDL  Results Among 3019 patients included in this study, the medians (interquartile range) of oxLDL and LDL were 13.96 (6.65–28.81) μg/dL, 3.1 (2.5–3.8) mmol/L, respectively. The cumulative occurrence of recurrent stroke, ischemic stroke, and combined vascular events was 9.74%, 9.54%, and 9.80% within 90 days of follow-up. Compared with those with low LDL and oxLDL levels (LDL  Conclusions The presence of higher combined serum oxLDL and LDL levels was associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke and poor functional outcomes in minor stroke or high-risk TIA patients.