Immunoenzymatic changes in ischemic stroke in children

Abstract

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) in children is a major neurological emergency, being a primary cause of morbidity and mortality. The incidence of IS is 2 – 13:100000 children or 1:4000 in neonatal period. The purpose of the study was evaluation of the expressivity of immune parameters in children with IS to improve understanding of pathogenesis, early diagnosis and predictive factors of the disease. Material and methods: In 2017 − 2019 in the Republic of Moldova a prospective study was carried out on a sample of 53 children with IS (study sample, SS), investigated by ELISA in the acute phase of the process determining the serum levels of endogline CD105 (ENG), S100B protein, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), antiphospholipid antibodies (APA), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). These markers were also appreciated in 53 ”practically healthy” children (control sample, CS). Six months after IS, serum levels of VEGF and S100B were re-assessed. Results: Medium values of markers in acute phase were as follows: (1) ENG – 2.06 ± 0.012 ng/ml (F=84.812, p<0.001); (2) S-100B – 0.524 ± 0.0850 ng/ml (F=9.330, p<0.01); (3) VEGF – 613.41 ± 39.299 pg/ml (F=60.701, p<0.001); (4) CNTF – 7.84 ± 0.322 pg/ml (F=32.550, p<0.001); (5) APA –1.37 ± 0.046 U/ml (F=60.701, p<0.001); (6) IL-6 – 22.02 ± 2.143 pg/ml (F=43.810, p<0.001), which were significantly different from the levels in CS. Conclusions: During the acute period of stroke in children, an increased serum level of the protein S100B, VEGF, CNTF, APA and IL-6 is observed, while CD 105 has low levels. These changes can have predictive role to improve prognosis of neurological outcome.