Abstract: Bilirubin is the final product of aging red blood cells when they were destroyed and degraded. Recent studies have demonstrated that it is a kind of endogenous antioxidant, which plays an important role in anti-atherosclerosis, scavenging free radicals and protecting the tissues and organs from damage. More and more studies have focused on the correlation between bilirubin and ischemic stroke. This article summarized the relationship between the antioxidant system of bilirubin and the occurrence, development and prognosis of atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke.

Key words: ischemic stroke, bilirubin, antioxidant, atherosclerosis, review