The value of serial plasma nuclear and mitochondrial DNA levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
Elevated circulating cell-free DNA in plasma is reported in several critical diseases. This study hypothesized that since plasma nuclear and mitochondrial DNA substantially increase after acute ischemic stroke and decrease thereafter, their levels can predict treatment outcomes.


METHODS
Plasma nuclear and mitochondrial DNA levels were serially examined in 50 acute ischemic stroke patients and in 50 at risk control subjects during the study period.


RESULTS
Levels of plasma nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in patients with acute ischemic stroke were significantly higher than those in the controls (p<0.05). Elevated circulating nuclear DNA in plasma persisted until one month after the acute stroke. Levels of plasma nuclear DNA positively correlated to the clinical severity of stroke as reflected by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of plasma nuclear and mitochondrial DNA reflect the severity of cerebral damage after acute cerebral infarction. Assay of plasma DNA levels can be considered a neuro-pathologic marker of patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Nai-Wen
NW
Tsai
Tsu-Kung
TK
Lin
Shang-Der
SD
Chen
Wen-Neng
WN
Chang
Hung-Chen
HC
Wang
Tzu-Ming
TM
Yang
Yu-Jun
YJ
Lin
Chung-Ren
CR
Jan
Chi-Ren
CR
Huang
Chia-Wei
CW
Liou
Cheng-Hsien
CH
Lu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood*; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial