BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Despite the improving imaging techniques, it remains challenging to predict the outcome early after transient cerebral ischemia. The aim of this study was thus to identify early metabolic biomarkers for outcome prediction.

METHODS

We modeled transient ischemic attacks and strokes in mice. Using high-field MR spectroscopy, we correlated early changes in the neurochemical profile of the ischemic striatum with histopathologic alterations at a later time point.

RESULTS

A significant increase in glutamine was measured between 3 hours and 8 hours after all ischemic events followed by reperfusion independently of the outcome and can thus be considered as an indicator of recent transient ischemia. On the other hand, a reduction of the score obtained by summing the concentrations of N-acetyl aspartate, glutamate, and taurine was a good predictor of an irreversible lesion as early as 3 hours after ischemia.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified biomarkers of reversible and irreversible ischemic damage, which can be used in an early predictive evaluation of stroke outcome.