Plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity at acute phase of stroke and stroke subtypes

Abstract

This study aims at investigating plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity at acute phase of stroke and stroke subtypes. 34 acute stroke patients (21 males, 13 females) and 14 healthy individuals (10 males, 4 females) participated in the study. The plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity was determined by colorimetric assay in conformity with the kit procedure. Plasma nitrite+nitrate levels were determined as 0.83 (0.83-0.83) ?M and 0.89 (0.76-1.12) ?M for the patient group and the control group respectively. As for the patient subgroups, the levels were obtained as 0.83 (0.54-0.83) ?M for large vessel disease and 0.83 (0.83-1.20) ?M for small vessel disease. Nonetheless, there was no statistically significant relationship (p>0.005) among groups. Consequently, in this study, we may assert that plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity does not constitute an important criterion for stroke and stroke subtypes. However, more comprehensive investigations are required to determine definite effect of plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity on stroke and stroke subtypes.