BACKGROUND: Thrombus precursor protein (TpP) is the index of thrombus activity level, and it is also early referencing index in detecting thrombus diseases. OBJECTIVE: To dynamically observe the changes of TpP level in blood plasma of patients with acute cerebral infarction at different time after onset, and to compare the differences of plasma TpP level between patients with acute cerebral infarction and healthy persons who received health examination. DESIGN: Controlled observation. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 58 patients with acute cerebral infarction who received the treatment in the Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College between September 2004 and March 2005 were recruited in this study. They all met the diagnostic criteria revised by the 4th National Conference of Cerebrovascular Disorders in 1995 and were diagnosed by clinical and skull CT and (or) MRI examinations. The patients included 33 male and 25 female aged from 36 to 87 years. Time to onset < 6 hours, 6 to 11 hours, 12 to 23 hours, 24 to 48 hours and > 48 hours were found in 10,11,14,10 and 13 patients respectively. Another 51 persons who homeochronously received the health body examination in our hospital were recruited, including 34 male and 17 female, aged 38 to 85 years, serving as control group. Patients with cardio-cerebrovascualr diseases or liver and kidney diseases were excluded. All the involved subjects were informed of the detected items. METHODS: About 4 mL venous blood was respectively taken from patients admitted to the hospital within 6 hours, 6 to11 hours, 12 to 23 hours, 24 to 48 hours and more then 48 hours after onset, and healthy persons when receiving health examination. The level of TpP in blood plasma was measured with enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Comparison of the level of plasma TpP between patients and controls; ② Comparison of the level of plasma TpP of patients with acute cerebral infarction at different time after onset. RESULTS: Totally 58 patients with acute cerebral infarction and 51 persons who received health examination participated in the result analysis. ① Comparison of plasma TpP level between patients and controls: The plasma TpP level of patients with acute cerebral infarction was significantly higher than that of control group [(16.12±3.28)vs (5.38±1.36) mg/L, t = 20.993, P < 0.01]. ② Comparison of plasma TpP level of patients with acute cerebral infarction at different time after onset: The level of plasma TpP was (12.06±3.06) mg/L within 6 hours, (15.11±3.42) mg/L at 6 to 11 hours, (20.63±4.05) mg/L at 12 to 23 hours, (16.15±3.50) mg/L at 24 to 48 hours and (11.88±3.11) mg/L at more than 48 hours after onset. It increased from the 6th hour, reached the peak at the 12th to 23rd hours, maintained at very high level at the 48th hour and then gradually decreased and recovered to the level within 6 hours after onset. The level of plasma TpP of patients with acute cerebral infarction was significantly higher at the 12th to 23rd hours after onset and the 24th to 48th hours after onset than within 6 hours after onset (t = 13.385, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ①The level of plasma TpP of patients with acute cerebral infarction is significantly higher than that of persons who received health examination.② Plasma TpP levels of patients with acute cerebral infarction change in wave manner at the different time after onset. BACKGROUND: Thrombus precursor protein (TpP) is the index of thrombus activity level, and it is also early referencing index in detecting thrombus diseases. OBJECTIVE: To dynamically observe the changes of TpP level in blood plasma of patients with acute cerebral infarction at different time after onset, and to compare the differences of plasma TpP level between patients with acute cerebral infarction and healthy persons who received health examination. DESIGN: Controlled observation. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 58 patients with acute cerebral infarction who received the treatment in the Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College between September 2004 and March 2005 were recruited in this study. They all met the diagnostic criteria revised by the 4th National Conference of Cerebrovascular Disorders in 1995 and were diagnosed by clinical and skull CT and (or) MRI examinations. The pat ients included 33 male and 25 female aged from 36 to 87 years. Time to onset <6 hours, 6 to 11 hours, 12 to 23 hours, 24 to 48 hours and> 48 hours were found in 10,11,14,10 and 13 patients respectively. Another 51 persons who homeochronously received the health body examination in our hospital were recruited, including 34 male and 17 female, aged 38 to 85 years, serving as control group. Patients with cardio-cerebrovascualr diseases or liver and kidney disease were METHODS. About 4 mL venous blood was respectively taken from patients admitted to the hospital within 6 hours, 6 to 11 hours, 12 to 23 hours, 24 to 48 hours and more then 48 hours after onset, and healthy persons when receiving health examination. The level of TpP in blood plasma was measured with enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Comparison of the level of plasma TpP between patients and controls; ② Comparison of the leve l ofplasma TpP of patients with acute cerebral infarction at different time after onset. RESULTS: Totally 58 patients with acute cerebral infarction and 51 persons who received health examination participated in the result analysis. ① Comparison of plasma TpP level between patients and controls: The plasma TpP level of patients with acute cerebral infarction was significantly higher than those of control group [(16.12 ± 3.28) vs (5.38 ± 1.36) mg / L, t = 20.993, P <0.01] The cerebral infarction at different time after onset: The level of plasma TpP was (12.06 ± 3.06) mg / L within 6 hours, (15.11 ± 3.42) mg / L at 6 to 11 hours, (20.63 ± 4.05) mg / L at 12 (16.15 ± 3.50) mg / L at 24 to 48 hours and (11.88 ± 3.11) mg / L at more than 48 hours after onset. It increased from the 6th hour, reached the peak at the 12th to 23rd hours , maintained at very high level at the 48th hour and then gradually decreased and recovered to the level within 6 hours after onset. The level of plasma TpP of patients with acute cerebral infarction was significantly higher at the 12th to 23rd hours after onset and the 24th to 48th hours after onset than within 6 hours after onset (t = 13.385, P <0.05). CONCLUSION: ①The level of plasma TpP of patients with acute cerebral infarction is significantly higher than that of persons who received health examination. ② Plasma TpP levels of patients with acute cerebral infarction change in wave manner at the different time after onset.