CT volume/density ratio as the marker of ischaemic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
We believe that the CT volume/density ratio (VDR) of infarcted area reflects the degree of brain tissue damage during ischaemic stroke (IS).


METHODS
Forty six patients with IS were prospectively enrolled into the study. CT scan was performed on days 1 and 10 of hospitalization. S100BB serum level, gelatinase activities (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and neurological examination (NIHSS) were performed on days 1, 5 and 10 of IS. After 3 months, 42 patients were examined by functional disability scales: Barthel index (BI) and modified Rankin scale (mRS).


RESULTS
The VDR of ischaemic focus correlated well with the average S100BB serum level, MMP-9 serum activity and NIHSS score. The weak but statistically significant relationships were noticed between the VDR vs BI and mRS estimated 3 months after stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
VDR reflects well the damage ratio of brain tissue during IS. In addition, the study underlines the relationship between VDR vs patients' neurological status and disability after IS.
Kurzepa
J
J
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland. kurzepa@onet.pl
Bielewicz
J
J
Czekajska-Chehab
E
E
Kurzepa
J
J
Bartosik-Psujek
H
H
Grabarska
A
A
Stelmasiak
Z
Z
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D018579:Patient Selection; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9