CHI3L1 and carotid atherosclerosis: In a study that included 89 patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis and 20 age-matched healthy controls, the serum CHI3L1 levels were significantly elevated in the patients with carotid atherosclerosis, particularly in symptomatic patients (114.9 ± 10.5 ng/mL), compared with the healthy controls (49.1 ± 3.2 ng/mL)137.