Serum antioxidant enzymes activities and oxidative stress levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke: influence on neurological status and outcome

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress is well believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic stroke. Reports on antioxidant enzyme activities in patients with stroke are conflicting. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate serum antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stress levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke within 1st, 5th, and 21st day after stroke onset and also the relationship between these results and the clinical status of patients. Methods: The current study comprised 45 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 30 healthy controls. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase activities were measured spectrophotometrically. Results: Serum MDA levels were significantly higher in acute ischemic stroke patients within 24 h after stroke onset than controls (p < 0.05), whereas serum catalase activity was significantly lower (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in GSH-Px and SOD activities. Serum catalase and SOD activities were significantly lower in fifth day than those of controls (both, p < 0.05) but GSH-Px activity and MDA levels did not change (p > 0.05). Serum SOD activity was significantly lower in 21st day compared to SOD activity of controls (p < 0.05) but MDA levels, GSH-Px, and CAT activities did not change significantly. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that acute ischemic stroke patients have increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant enzymes activities. These findings indicated that an imbalance of oxidant and antioxidant status might play a role in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic stroke.