Neurology
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Published online before print October 29, 2008, doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000326064.42186.7e)
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Received October 19, 2007
Accepted June 18, 2008

High plasma glutamate concentrations are associated with infarct growth in acute ischemic stroke

M. Castellanos MD, PhD, T. Sobrino BSc, S. Pedraza MD, O. Moldes BSc, J. M. Pumar MD, PhD, Y. Silva MD, PhD, J. Serena MD, PhD, M. García-Gil MD, PhD, J. Castillo MD, PhD, and A. Dávalos MD, PhD*

From the Department of Neurology (M.C., Y.S., J.S.), Institut de Diagnostic per la Imatge IDI (S.P.), and Unit of Biostatistics (M.G.-G.), Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta, Girona; Department of Neurology (J.C.), Clinical Neuroscience Research Laboratory (T.S., O.M., J.C.), and Department of Neuroradiology (J.M.P.), Hospital Clínico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela; and Department of Neurosciences (A.D.), Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain.


* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: adavalos.germanstrias{at}gencat.net.

Background: Excitotoxic and inflammatory mechanisms have been demonstrated as mediating early neurologic deterioration (END) in patients with cerebral infarction. Here we investigate whether molecular markers associated with END are related to the volume and outcome of the diffusion weighted image (DWI) lesion in acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: MRI was performed on admission and at 72 hours in 197 patients with acute hemispheric infarction of <12 hours' duration. DWI lesion enlargement was calculated as the absolute difference between volumes on admission and day 3 of evolution. NIH Stroke Scale was scored at the same intervals. END was defined as an increase ≥4 points within the 3 days. Glutamate, L-arginine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} levels were analyzed in blood samples obtained on admission.

Results: DWI lesion growth was found in 144 (73%) patients (median increase 38 [6.5, 83.4] cm3) and END occurred in 58 (29.4%) patients. Baseline glutamate (r = 0.71), L-arginine (r = -0.35), and IL-6 levels (r = 0.50) showed a high and significant correlation with the DWI lesion enlargement (all p < 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, glutamate levels were the only molecular marker associated with DWI lesion enlargement at 72 hours ({beta} = 0.21; SD = 0.07; p = 0.004).

Conclusions: Molecular markers of early neurologic deterioration may play a role as mediators of lesion growth in cerebral ischemia. Plasma glutamate concentration is the most powerful and independent predictor biomarker of lesion enlargement in the acute phase of ischemic stroke, and so may well be useful as a signature of tissue at risk of infarction.






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