The combination of plasma glutamate and physical impairment after acute stroke as a potential indicator for the early-onset post-stroke depression.

•Subjects within 24h of acute ischemic stroke were consecutively recruited in this study.•Plasma glutamate following acute ischemic stroke was an independent risk factor for the early onset of PSD.•The combination of reduced plasma glutamate and physical impairment was a potential diagnostic indicator for early-onset PSD.