[Possibilities for the diagnosis of inflammatory reaction in ischemic stroke]

To study diagnostic possibilities for determining the content of nitrite and N-nitroso compounds (NO₂^-+RNNO) in blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (IS).

Twenty-four patients with IS were examined. The content of NO oxidation products was determined in venous blood and CSF by using an enzyme sensor based on the unique property of nitrite (NO₂^-), N-nitroso compounds (RNNO), S-nitrosothiols and dinitrosyl iron complexes to inhibit the enzyme catalase in the presence of halide ions. The study was conducted on the 1st day of IS.

CSF in patients with IS contained nitrite and N-nitroso compounds (NO₂^-+RNNO) in concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 2.0 µm. The relationship between the size of IS and the concentration of NO₂^-+RNNO in CSF was shown. It was 1.01±0.13 µm in patients with medium IS and 0.71±0.07 µm in patients with small IS (U-criterion 16.5; p<0.05). There was no correlation between the severity of neurological deficit at the time of hospitalization and discharge from the hospital and the content of NO₂^-+RNNO in CSF (r=0.134; p>0.5; r=0.155; p>0.5, respectively). Plasma NO₂^-+RNNO levels were not associated with the presence and size of IS though they were elevated in patients with inflammatory complications. In conclusion, NO₂^-+RNNO can be considered as a marker of inflammation in patients with IS. Their presence in CSF reflects the extent of brain damage, but not the presence of concomitant inflammatory diseases.