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Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 serum levels in patients with vertebrobasilar
Juan Manuel Marquez-Romero1, Raúl Díaz-Molina2, Bernardo César Hernández-Curiel3
1Neurology Department, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), HGZ 2, Av. de, Los Conos 102, Ojocaliente, 20190, Aguascalientes, Mexico. scint1st@gmail.com.
Purpose:
To describe the differences in the serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 of patients with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) with and without acute stroke.
Methods:
Case-control study. From an outpatient clinic, we recruited 14 controls and 19 patients with VBD. We also recruited 33 patients with stroke from two emergency departments, 14 without VBD (S/-VBD) and 19 with VBD (S/ + VBD). All the patients underwent serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 measurements and a non-contrast CT scan. Two investigators assessed the intracranial vertebral arteries (VA) and the basilar artery (BA) at the mid-pons. Diagnosis of VBD was made if the BA diameter was ≥ 4.5 mm.
Results:
The mean age of the 66 patients studied was 57.6 + 16.0 years, 41% female. In the 33 patients with stroke, the median NIHSS was 8 (range 15); there were no differences in the NIHSS scores between both groups with stroke. Median MMP-2 levels were lower in the S/-VBD when compared to controls. Median MMP-9 serum levels were higher in both groups with VBD when compared to controls and the S/-VDB group. Both groups with stroke exhibited higher MMP-9 serum levels than controls but were not statistically different from those found in patients with VBD. Serum levels of MMP-9 were significantly correlated with the diameters of the BA (r = 0.344, p = 0.01) and the left VA (r = 0.305, p = 0.05).
Conclusion:
This study found that high serum levels of MMP-9 are associated with VBD independently of stroke and correlated with the degree of VBD.
