High triglyceride-glucose index is associated with early recurrent ischemic lesion in acute ischemic stroke

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been associated with various metabolic, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases. We evaluated the association between the TyG index and early recurrent ischemic lesions (ERILs) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We included consecutive patients diagnosed with AIS between 2010 and 2016. ERILs were defined as new diffusion-weighted imaging lesions outside the initial symptomatic lesion area. The TyG index was calculated using the following formula: log scale of fasting triglyceride × fasting glucose/2. A total of 176 patients with AIS were evaluated. In the multivariable analysis, the TyG index remained significant (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34–5.15). This close correlation between the TyG index and ERIL was pronounced in ERIL-same group (aOR 2.84, 95% CI 1.40–5.78), but not in ERIL-different group. When comparing the relationship between the TyG index and ERIL by stroke mechanisms, only the intracranial- and extracranial-large artery atherosclerosis groups showed significantly higher TyG index values in patients with ERIL than those without. In conclusion, a higher TyG index was associated with ERIL, especially ERIL-same, in patients with AIS. The TyG index appears to be involved in ERIL occurrence by a mechanism related to atherosclerosis.