Correlation of Plasma Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Expression with Early Neurological Deterioration and Recurrence in Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the correlation between the expression of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in plasma and early neurological deterioration (END) as well as early recurrence of acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods: A total of 160 ACI cases were divided into the following five groups based on the occurrence of END and early recurrence: Group A (n = 48, had END at first admission), group B (n = 112, without END at first admission), group C (n = 32, with early recurrence 3 months after discharge), group D (n = 128, without early recurrence 3 months after discharge), group E (n = 17, patients in group A with early recurrence 3 months after discharge). Fifty healthy people during the same period were selected as controls. Participants’ blood glucose, blood pressure, hemoglobin and urine protein were measured biochemically, and ADMA levels in their plasma were measured by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). Further, the correlation of ADMA expression in the plasma of ACI patients with biochemical parameters, NIHSS (national institutes of health stroke scale) score, early recurrence and cerebral infarction area was performed using the Pearson’s method. Results: The results showed that compared with healthy people, the expression of ADMA was significantly higher in the blood of ACI patients and even higher in ACI patients with END. Logistic regression analysis indicated that ADMA level was a risk factor for END and early recurrence in ACI patients. Besides, ADMA levels were positively correlated with NIHSS score, early recurrence of ACI and cerebral infarction. Conclusions: These findings indicated ADMA as a potential diagnostic marker for END and early recurrence of ACI.