Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41614515›Full record

ArticleEuropean stroke journal2026

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) for risk stratification after acute ischemic stroke: Results from the BIOSIGNAL cohort study.

Johannes Frenger, Benjamin Jeker, Markus Arnold, Gerrit M Grosse, Thomas Pokorny, Laura P Westphal, Corinne Inauen, Giulio Bicciato, Marcel Arnold, Urs Fischer and 12 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in European stroke journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Johannes FrengerDepartment of Neurology & Stroke Center, University Hospital of Basel & University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0004-9976-4429
Benjamin JekerDepartment of Neurology & Stroke Center, University Hospital of Basel & University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Markus ArnoldDepartment of Neurology & Stroke Center, University Hospital of Basel & University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Gerrit M GrosseDepartment of Neurology & Stroke Center, University Hospital of Basel & University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-5335-9880
Thomas PokornyDepartment of Neurology & Stroke Center, University Hospital of Basel & University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Laura P WestphalDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Corinne InauenDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-7786-2720
Giulio BicciatoDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Marcel ArnoldDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Urs FischerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-0521-4051
Gian Marco De MarchisDepartment of Neurology & Stroke Center, University Hospital of Basel & University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Georg KägiDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Timo KahlesDepartment of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-1569-6376
Carlo W CeredaNeurocentro della Svizzera Italiana, Stroke Center EOC, Lugano, Switzerland.
Alejandro BustamanteStroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Barcelona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-4390-8900
Joan MontanerInstitute de Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS/Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-4845-2279
George NtaiosDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-0629-9248
Christian FoerchDepartment of Neurology, RKH Hospital Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany.
Katharina SpanausInstitute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Arnold von EckardsteinInstitute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Daniel MuellerInstitute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Mira KatanDepartment of Neurology & Stroke Center, University Hospital of Basel & University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Funding

Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Rhyner-Stiftung YTCR 14/22Schweizerische Herzstiftung FF23099Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionRecent studies in stroke patients from predominantly Asian populations have underscored the significance of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) as a valuable blood biomarker for predicting incident strokes and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). However, its prognostic role after ischemic stroke in other populations is not yet comprehensively investigated. PATIENTS AND

methodsWe measured plasma TMAO levels in 1726 acute ischemic stroke patients (within 24 h from symptom onset) from the multicenter BIOSIGNAL cohort. Using cox and logistic regression models adjusting for demographic and vascular risk factors, we investigated the association of TMAO with recurrent stroke, MACE within 365 days and functional outcome at 90 days after stroke.

resultsTMAO levels were not associated with any risk of recurrent stroke (n = 108, unadj. HR per unit increase of log (TMAO) 1.15, 95% CI 0.88-1.51, adjust. HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.78-1.47) or MACE (n = 309, unadj. HR of log (TMAO) 1.10,95% CI 0.91-1.3, adjust. HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.74-1.09). There was an univariable positive association between higher TMAO plasma levels and unfavorable functional outcome, this association remained statistically significant in the multivariable analysis (unadj. OR of log (TMAO) 1.56, 95% CI 1.34-1.81, adjust. OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.04-1.57).

conclusionIn this large cohort of acute stroke patients from a predominantly White population, TMAO had no independent association with either recurrent stroke, or MACE or death. In univariable, and multivariable analysis, there was a significant association between TMAO and unfavorable functional outcome, which might not be clinically significant due to its low effect size. Therefore, TMAO seems not to be a clinically relevant biomarker for risk stratification after stroke.

Indexed as

Brain IschemiaIschemic StrokeMethylaminesStrokeAgedBiomarkersCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRecurrenceRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsBiomarkersMethylaminestrimethyloxaminefunctional outcomeischemic strokemajor adverse cardiovascular eventsrisk stratificationsecondary preventionTMAOtrimethylamine-N-oxide

Identifiers

PMID41614515
PMCPMC12866255

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