Diagnostic Values of miR-221-3p in Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid for Post-Stroke Depression and Analysis of Risk Factors

We aimed to explore the diagnostic values of miR-221-3p in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for post-stroke depression (PSD) and to analyze the risk factors of the disease.

Admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China from May 2013 to May 2020, 136 stroke patients were enrolled, among which 76 PSD patients were taken as a PSD group and 60 non-depressed patients were taken as a Non-PSD group. miR-221-3p expression in serum and CSF and concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) in serum were detected, to analyze the diagnostic and prognostic values of the indicators for PSD. Correlations of miR-221-3p in serum with that in CSF, with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) score, and with inflammatory cytokines were analyzed, so as to analyze the risk factors affecting the occurrence of PSD.

Compared with the Non-PSD group, miR-221-3p remarkably upregulated in serum and CSF in the PSD group, and its areas under the curves (AUCs) for PSD identification were 0.900 and 0.925, respectively. According to the correlation analysis, miR-221-3p in serum was remarkably positively correlated with that in CSF, NIHSS score, HAMD score, IL-6 and TNF-α. In addition, a history of mental illness, NIHSS score, HAMD score, IL-6, TNF-α and miR-221-3p were risk factors of PSD.

miR-221-3p in serum and CSF can be used as the diagnostic and risk warning indicators of PSD.