Release of superoxide dismutase into cerebrospinal fluid as a marker of brain lesion in acute cerebral infarction.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of biochemical patterns in cerebrospinal fluid may add diagnostic and prognostic information. We tested to determine whether the concentration of superoxide dismutase in cerebrospinal fluid is a marker of brain tissue damage in acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

We investigated 36 acute ischemic stroke patients for cerebrospinal fluid activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase on two occasions shortly after symptom onset (average, day 1 and day 4).

RESULTS

In 75% of the patients, the first of two lumbar punctures revealed the maximal superoxide dismutase value. The amount in the cerebrospinal fluid was significantly correlated with the size of infarction on computed tomographic scan (p less than 0.001 by analysis of variance) and to functional impairment and stroke-related mortality during initial hospital stay (p less than 0.002). The correlation of initial superoxide dismutase concentration with the need for long-term institutional care and mortality at 3 months after the stroke was also significant (p less than 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that superoxide dismutase in cerebrospinal fluid is a marker of an acute brain lesion and has some value as a prognostic predictor. This small enzyme leaks rapidly from ischemically injured cells.