[Levels of neurotransmitter amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with acute ischemic stroke].

The dynamics of the levels of both excitatory (aspartate, glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA, glycine) neurotransmitter amino acids was estimated in cerebrospinal fluid of 110 patients with hemispheric ischemic stroke. A significant increase of the contents of glutamate and aspartate was found beginning with the first 6 hours of the disease onset. The degree and duration of such elevation correlated with severity of the stroke. Maximal GABA and glycine levels were registered to the end of the 1st day of the stroke, that reflected delayed triggering of the protective inhibitory mechanisms. It was established that insufficiency of GABA-mediation in hemispherical location of the stroke was much responsible for both the severity of its clinical manifestations and potential of the restorative processes. Early significant biochemical criteria for objective assessment of the severity of cerebral ischemia as well as of the stroke course and outcome were defined. The most unfavourable prognostic signs were low GABA concentration (or impossibility of its evaluation) during the first days of the stroke, progredient elevation of the aspartate level until the 3d day of the disease and the severe fall of glutamate concentration (in spite of its initial increase on the 1st day).