Plasma low molecular weight aminothiols in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate homeostatic disorders of plasma low molecular weight aminothiols (LMWTs: cysteine, cysteinylglycine, homocysteine, and glutathione) during acute and early subacute stages of ischemic stroke. Patients and Methods: 41 patients with primary large-artery atherosclerosis and cardioembolic stroke were admitted within the first 6-24 h of the onset of neurologic symptoms. The control group included 31 patients with chronic cerebral ischemia. Concentrations of total LMWTs and their reduced forms were measured on days 1, 3, 7, and 15 after stroke. Results and Discussion: Concentrations of cysteine and cysteinylglycine reduced forms were decreased in patients with stroke on days 1-7. Also, early adaptive increases in total glutathione and cysteine levels were observed. LMWT concentrations did not differ between stroke subtypes. The analysis of logistic regression indicated that concentrations of reduced homocysteine and total cysteinylglycine and the redox status of cysteine at admission were predictive factors for development of ischemic stroke with a probability of 86.2% (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Concentrations of LMWTs may indicate the severity of neurological deficit and the size of cerebral infarct. Measuring these concentrations can be diagnostically important both at an early stage of ischemic stroke and during stroke monitoring.