Abstract

ACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: Stroke is the second most common cause of death, after heart disease. For many years it has been postulated that oxidative stress (OS) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of ischemic events. The OS corresponds to an imbalance between oxidative species and antioxidant defense system. The aim of the present study is to determine the correlation between plasma levels of lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity of plasma with the degree of disability in patients with ischemic stroke. OBJECTIVES: To establish the correlation between oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant potential with the degree of disability in patients with ischemic stroke METHODS: Five patients with recent ischemic stroke were evaluated. Seven blood samples were collected for every patient (at days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 30 post stroke event). One sample from control group, without ischemic stroke, was also collected. Blood F2-isoprostane levels and plasma malondialdehyde levels were measured as OS biomarkers. To evaluate the antioxidant defence, the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and uric acid levels were measured. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was applied for the neurological evaluation. RESULTS: From the first day post stroke we found elevetad levels of F2-isoprostane in ischemic stroke patients compared to control group, reaching a significantly difference on the fourth day post stroke. In addition, the total plasma antioxidant capacity of patients with stroke is significantly lower on days 1 and 4, compared with the control group. There was no significantly differences on the malondialdehyde levels compared to the control group. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: These preliminary results do not allow us to stablish the correlation postulated as general objective because of the small sample size of patients that we have recruited until now. However, the results of oxidative stress biomarkers and plasma antioxidant capacity are promising and support the role of oxidative stress in the ischemic stroke injury. Moreover, these results open the possibility of continuing with this study. Finally, it is imperative to increase the sample size, in order to obtain results with statistical significance allowing us to stablish the correlation postulated as general.