lactoferrin and Cerebrovascular-Disorders

The hemorheologic changes in three groups of patients suffering from acute and chronic cerebrovascular diseases were studied. Firstly, a horizontal study on 57 patients with definite stroke and on 49 patients with TIA was made. Plasma viscosity, whole blood filtration rate, fibrinogen concentration and hematocrit were evaluated as markers of the rheological property of blood. Blood samples were drawn within 6 h from the onset of vascular syndrome. The findings were compared with values obtained in 112 as controls. At the same time, washed red cell filtration rate, together with lactoferrin, betaglucuronidase and beta-thromboglobulin plasma level were assayed. In both groups the onset of the vascular storm was associated with a marked increase of plasma fibrinogen and of blood and plasma viscosity and a significant decrease of whole blood filterability. Lactoferrin, betaglucuronidase and beta-thromboglobulin levels were also significantly increased. Following this, a longitudinal study was performed on 27 patients with definite stroke and 32 patients with TIA. The clinical regression of acute stroke was associated with the progressive reduction of rheological abnormalities. Finally, 81 patients with clinical diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease due to previous stroke or repeated TIA were studied together. An increase of blood viscosity, of fibrinogen concentration and of hematocrit and a decrease of blood filtration rate together with higher levels of beta-thromboglobulin were registered. These results confirm the existence of an association between CVD and hemorheological alterations and suggest more in depth research directed towards identifying the significance of these alterations in the pathogenesis of tissue ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; beta-Thromboglobulin; Blood Viscosity; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Chronic Disease; Erythrocyte Deformability; Female; Hematocrit; Humans; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Lactoferrin; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Rheology

ECP (eosinophil cationic protein) has been measured by means of a specific radioimmunoassay in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 210 individuals with various diseases affecting the central nervous system. In the same specimens lactoferrin and albumin were measured as well, as indicators of neutrophil-involved inflammation and damage to the blood-brain barrier. From a patient reference group (n = 39) the upper "normal" limit for ECP was estimated to 1.7 microgram/l. In patients with acute cerebrovascular disease (n = 108) ECP levels were elevated in 38% of the cases which was a significantly (P less than 0.001) greater proportion than seen for lactoferrin (7%). In patients with acute infections of the CNS (n = 30) 67% had raised ECP levels with significantly higher levels (P less than 0.001) in those having bacterial infections. The ECP levels were significantly correlated (P less than 0.001) to the lactoferrin-levels in the whole infectious group. In patients with tumours (n = 25) raised levels of ECP were found in 67% of those with malignant and in 6% of those having benign tumours. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The ECP levels were closely related to those of lactoferrin (P less than 0.001) and albumin (P less than 0.005). Of the patients with multiple sclerosis (n = 19) 25% had raised ECP levels. This proportion was not significantly different from those having raised lactoferrin levels. In three patients extremely high ECP levels (70-455 micrograms/l) were found and a causal relationship between ECP and the brain tissue damage in these patients is suggested. In comparison with the neutrophil-related data the findings suggest a preferential involvement of eosinophils in some diseases affecting the central nervous system.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Blood Proteins; Brain Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Eosinophil Granule Proteins; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Meningitis; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Ribonucleases; Serum Albumin