Abstract: Objective   To explore the relationship among National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS), serum cystatin C(Cys C) and post stroke depression(PSD) one month after the onset of acute cerebral infarction. Methods   The baseline data, NIHSS and Cys C concentration of 101 patients with first ever acute cerebral infarction were collected. Followedup for 1 month,  patients were divided into PSD group and nonPSD group according to the diagnostic criteria agreed by Chinese experts on clinical practice of PSD.   PSD group was further divided into mild PSD group and moderatesevere PSD group according to the result of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD17). Results  The Cys C concentration in  nonPSD group,  mild PSD group and moderatesevere PSD group were significantly different (P<0.05); The NIHSS showed difference among nonPSD group,  mild PSD group and moderatesevere PSD group (P<0.05); NIHSS score, Cys C were positively correlated with HAMD17 score (r=0.766,  r=0.511, P<0.05),  and they were independent risk factors for PSD(OR=1.153,  95%CI 1.0091.317; OR=21.234,  95%CI  15.85628.436). Conclusion  High NIHSS and high Cys C concentration are independent risk factors for PSD.

Key words: cerebrovascular accident, depression disorder, risk factors; , cystatin C