Objective: Atherosclerosis and inflammatory mechanisms play an important role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia. The activity of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) is essential for many of the processes involved in atherosclerotic plaque formation, such as infiltration of inflammatory cells, smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. There are a few studies referring to the importance of MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels for the stroke severity and prognosis in acute ischemic stroke In this study, MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in acute and subacute periods and the relationship between Glasgow coma scale (GCS) will was assessed.
Methods: Seventy ischemic stroke patients who fulfilled the study criteria are included to our study prospectively. Serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 antibody levels calculated by ELISA method at period of the acute and subacute ischemic stroke.
Results: Average serum MMP2 antibody levels are 4.28 ± 3.36 acute period and 2.27 ± 2.62 (p˂0.05) in subacute period. Also average serum MMP9 antibody levels are 4.28 ± 3.36 acute period and 2.83 ± 3.83 (p˂0.05). It was not observed correlation between MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and GCS.
Conclusion: These results suggest that MMP-2 levels in the patients with ischemic stroke show a statistically significant difference when compared acute and subacute period. We conclude that MMP-2 may important role on the ischemic stroke