Total Antioxidant Capacity Predicts Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke Subtypes in Egyptian Patients.

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress after ischemic stroke contributes to neuronal cell injury. We tried to demonstrate an association between total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels and outcomes after acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

METHODS

We enrolled 60 patients (36 females and 24 males) who were admitted to our hospital due to AIS, in addition to 30 age and sex-matched healthy controls. TAC levels were measured on day 1 of stroke onset, the relationships between TAC levels, stroke subtypes, and clinical outcomes based on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin scale upon discharge were evaluated.

RESULTS

TAC levels were significantly lower in AIS patients than control (P < .001) being much lower in patients with large-vessel cerebral infarction than in those with small-vessel infarction. We investigated whether TAC concentrations reflected the severity and outcome of ischemic stroke and we found a significantly lower concentration of TAC in the poor outcome group than in the good outcome group (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that the biochemical changes related to TAC and oxidative stress may be considered a marker of ischemic brain injury and clinical outcome of ischemic stroke.