The role of blood nitrogen and oxygen radical spices in acute ischemic stroke

Maya Beridze, Roman Shakarishvili, Tamar Sanikidze

Georgian State Medical Academy, Tbilisi, Georgia

Research purposed to investigate the pathogenic role and prognostic value of several acute phase factors reflecting the severity of oxidative stress in blood of acute ischemic stroke patients. 95 patients with acute ischemic stroke investigated. The basic neurological impairment assessed applying the international scales NIHSS and GCS. Patients divided into 3 groups: with severe stroke (GCS>9, NIHSS>15), stroke with moderate severity (GCS=14,15; NIHSS=10-15), mild stroke (GCS=15, NIHSS<10). Visualization of ischemic injury performed by conventional MRI at 48 hours. NO levels measured by Electron Paramagnet Resonance method (EPR). NO2 and Superoxidismutase (SOD) levels defined by Spectrophotometer. The high EPR signals of free NO were noticed in all groups of patients compared to control, though the significant differences between groups were not found. Increased blood levels of SOD and NO2 were detected in severe stroke patients compared to control, but - significantly decreased in comparison with moderate severity and mild stroke groups. Significant negative correlation was found between the initial bloods levels of NO2 and the ischemic lesion size at 48 hours as well as with functional outcome at 1 month from stroke onset (r=-0,71 p<0,01 and r=-0,52 p<0,05 respectively). Apparently the blood levels of NO2 in acute period of ischemic stroke might be considered as the important predictor of initial infarct size and the functional outcome at 1 month from stroke onset.

Keywords:  stroke, ischemia, nitric oxide, nitrates, antioxidants, necrosis, apoptosis