Dynamic change of serum MMP-9 in patients with acute cerebral infarction and clinical significance

Objective To investigate the changes of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)concentration in patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI)and to evaluate its clinical significance.Methods 80 cases of ACI and 60 normal were included in the study.The blood samples were collected at days 1,2,5,7 and 14 after stroke onset.Serum MMP-9 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).60 healthy persons were used as control subjects.Results The serum MMP-9 levels in ACI patients were(272±128)μg/L,(395±157)μg/L,(378±140)μg/L,(307±127)μg/L,(236±112)μg/L respectively at 1 d,2 d,5 d,7 d,14 d after the onset.The above serum MMP-9 level were higher than the normal group,merely(149±110)μg/L(P＜0.01,respectively).MMP-9 level in the large infaction group was higher than in the medium or the small infaction group at 2 day after stroke onset(F'=24.298,P＜0.01).The infarction size and prognosis were correlated with serum MMP-9 levels prognosis(P＜0.01).Condusions The MMP-9 level remarkably increased in the early stage of patients with ACI,and the increasing degree may provide quantitative information for the damage of central nervous systerm.and the serum level of MMP-9 might have prognostic value to the cerebral ischemia. Key words: ACI; MMP-9; Prognosis