Resistin is an adipocytokine derived from adipose tissue. Studies showed that resistin is not only related to insulin resistance, but also possibly an important factor related to activating of inflammation and atherosclerosis. It influences the endothelial cells and the function of vessel. To investigate whether or not resistin play a role in the metabolic syndrome and ischemic stroke. we examined the plasma resistin concentrations as well as the 3¡¦ untranslated region +62 G/A polymorphism of resistin gene in a Taiwan population. In the first part of this study, 112 patients with ischemic cerebral vascular disease and 110 healthy subjects were included and analyses of demographic and biochemical parameter, high sensitive C-reactive protein and plasma resistin concentration measurements were performed. In the second part, 594 patients with ischemic cerebral vascular disease and 799 healthy control were examined for resistin 3¡¦ untranslated region +62 G/A polymorphism. Resistin concentration was analyzed by EIA method, and resistin 3¡¦ untranslated region +62 G/A polymorphism was done by PCR and RFLP. The mean plasma resistin concentration of 112 patients with ischemic cerebral vascular disease was significantly lower than that of the 110 controls (32 ¡Ó 59.7 ng/ml and 55.7 ¡Ó 82.5 ng/ml, p < 0.001).When the concentration of resistin was divided into 4 groups and analyzed as continuous variable, it was found that decreased plasma resistin concentration is associated with increased risk of ischemic cerebral vascular disease. After the multiple adjustment by logistic analysis, the adds ratio for the first, second and third quadrate were 7.8, 5.0 and 0.1, respectively). The genotype analysis of 594 patients with ischemic cerebral vascular disease and 799 healthy controls show that the resistin genotype was related statistically to the risk of ischemic stroke. In multiple regression analysis, resistin 3¡¦ untranslated region +62 G/A polymorphism was significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure (GA + AA : GG = 142.2 ¡Ó 19.2 : 139.3 ¡Ó 20.7 mmHg, p = 0.044) and fasting plasma sugar (GA + AA : GG : 83.4 ¡Ó 13.1 : 81.1 ¡Ó 13.1 mg/dl , p = 0.005). Our results indicated that resistin may be related to metabolic syndrome and ischemic cerebral vascular disease and possibly play a role in the development of atherosclerosis.