Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma interleukin-37(IL-37) level and short-term prognosis of acute ischemic stroke(AIS) based on propensity score matching(PSM).

Methods The clinical data of 348 patients with acute ischemic stroke were included in the study.The patients were divided into the poor prognosis group(122 cases) and good prognosis group(226 cases) according to the mRS scores ≥3 points and 0-2 points at 3 months after onset, and PSM method was used to balance confounding factors at a ratio of 1 to 1.After matching, there were 60 cases in poor prognosis and 60 cases in good prognosis.The baseline data and related indicators were compared between before and after matching.

Results Among the 348 patients, the median age was 66 years, including 220 males (63.22%) and 128 females (36.78%).One hundred and twenty-two cases (35.06%) had poor prognosis and 226 cases (64.94%) had good prognosis.The median baseline NIHSS score was 6 points, in the poor prognosis group and 3 points in the good prognosis group.The median IL-37 levels in the poor and good prognosis groups were 25.30 pg/mL and 20.75 pg/mL, respectively.The differences of age, TOAST classification, baseline NIHSS score, international standardized ratio, D-dimer and IL-37 levels were statistically significant between two groups(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).After 1∶ 1 matching, there were 60 cases in poor prognosis group and 60 cases in good prognosis group.After matching, the other indicators were well balanced, and the median IL-37 level was still significantly different between two groups(P < 0.01).

Conclusions The plasma IL-37 levels have predictive value for the short-term prognosis in acute ischemic stroke.