Dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis in acute ischemic stroke patients

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Neuroscience
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Thiol-disulfide homeostasis is crucial for cellular antioxidation and protection.
• Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of acute ischemic stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate alterations in thiol-disulfide homeostasis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
• To explore the relationship between thiol-disulfide levels and stroke severity, infarct volume, and functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study including 54 acute ischemic stroke patients and 53 healthy controls.
• Measurement of thiol, disulfide, and total thiol levels within 24 and 72 hours post-stroke.
• Assessment of infarct volume, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Barthel Index (BI).

Main Results:

• Stroke patients exhibited significantly lower native thiol levels compared to controls (p < 0.001).
• A significant negative correlation was found between infarct volume and native thiol levels (ρ = -0.378; p = 0.005).
• Thiol levels differed significantly between mild and moderate-severe NIHSS groups (p = 0.026), suggesting a link to stroke severity.

Conclusions:

• Acute ischemic stroke is associated with a disruption of thiol-disulfide homeostasis, characterized by reduced thiol levels.
• The observed changes in thiol levels may correlate with stroke severity and infarct size.
• Therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring thiol-disulfide balance could potentially offer benefits in managing ischemic stroke.