Predictive value of selected biochemical markers of brain damage for functional outcome in ischaemic stroke patients.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies suggested that biochemical markers of brain damage could act as prognostic factors in ischaemic stroke. The aim of the present study was to assess predictive value of the selected biomarkers S100B protein, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimers, as well as GABA and excitatory amino-acids (EAA) measured in blood for 3-month functional outcome in ischaemic stroke patients.

Material And Methods: We investigated 54 patients with ischaemic stroke (mean age: 73.3 +/-11.7). Serum concentrations of S100B, NSE, CRP, EAA and GABA, as well as plasma concentrations of D-dimers, were assessed in blood samples taken at admission and at 12, 24, and 72 hours after stroke onset. Functional status was measured with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3 months after stroke onset.

Results: Significant independent predictors of outcome in ischaemic stroke patients 3 months after stroke were: S100B level at 12 h (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 0.5-7.0; p = 0.007), NSE at 12 h (OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 0.7-8.1; p = 0.037), 24 h (OR: 10.2; 95% CI: 2.4-43.2; p = 0.0007), and 72 h (OR: 10.2; 95% CI: 2.3-45.0; p = 0.0001), CRP at 72 h (OR: 8.3; 95% CI: 1.5-45.4; p = 0.009) and D-dimers at admission (OR: 4.8; 95% CI: 1.1-20.7; p = 0.02), 24 h (OR: 5.5; 95% CI: 1.4-20.9; p = 0.004), and 72 h after stroke onset (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 0.6-11.8; p = 0.01).

Conclusions: The results of the present study are consistent with previous evidence indicating that selected biomarkers could help in prediction of the outcome in ischaemic stroke early after symptoms onset.