Abstract
Background and Purpose-Inflammatory response is a critical component of the complex pathophysiological response to stroke. Vitamin C has been shown to have important roles in cell performance and vascular function. In this study, we compared the nutritional status and levels of inflammatory markers between stroke cases and controls and assessed which antioxidant was associated with levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress among cases and controls. Methods-We evaluated the nutritional status and measured plasma levels of vitamins C and E, uric acid, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-1β, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), prostaglandins PGE2 and PGI2, and 8-isoprostanes (8-epiPGF 2α) for 15 patients with ischemic stroke within 2 to 5 days after stroke onset and for 24 control subjects. Results-Stroke patients had significantly lower plasma levels of vitamin C than did controls. Among stroke patients, CRP was significantly elevated, as were the ICAM-1, MCP-1, and 8-epiPGF2α but the prostaglandins PGE2 and PGI2 were significantly reduced. Interestingly, vitamin C concentration was significantly inversely correlated with the levels of CRP and 8-epiPGF2α among stroke patients, and 8-epiPGF2α was significantly associated with the levels of CRP. Uric acid was also elevated among stroke patients. Conclusions-Lower vitamin C concentration, higher serum levels of inflammatory (CRP, ICAM-1, MCP-1) and oxidative stress (8-epiPGF 2α) markers, and lower PGI2 and PGE2 concentrations among stroke patients indicate the presence of an inflammatory response associated with stroke.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 163-168 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Stroke |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Antioxidants
- C-reactive protein
- Inflammation
- Oxidative stress
- Stroke
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Advanced and Specialized Nursing