Antioxidants and intracerebral haemorrhage

Abstract

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), a serious cerebrovascular condition, is accompanied by a series of biochemical and pathological events constituting the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and thus altering the antioxidant mechanisms and antioxidant enzymatic levels. In studying these antioxidant cascades, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis offers the most innocuous tool as it is in close connection with the central nervous system (CNS). This study aimed at assessing the difference in the activities of Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (Gred), glutathione transferase (GTS) activities in CSF samples of healthy and ICH patient. The level of oxidative damage was highlighted by malondialdehyde (MDA) as a parameter of lipid peroxidation. Total nitrite levels were also measured. During ICH, the decrease in the activity of SOD, CAT and GPx is accompanied by a significant increase in the activities of GST and Gred. Total nitrite and MDA levels both increased significantly. In present study we may conclude that ICH alters antioxidants levels and several of these parameters can be used as biomarkers of extreme cerebral oxidative stress.