Spermidine: A predictor for neurological outcome and infarct size in focal cerebral ischemia?
As hypothesized from experimental data, polyamine levels in blood increase in patients after focal cerebral ischemia. The results indicate that the peripheral spermidine level is closely associated with the clinical outcome as well as with the infarction volume. Therefore, polyamines may be used as a novel predictor for the prognosis of patients with focal cerebral ischemia.
This pilot study provides the first evidence for a significant improvement of cerebral vasomotor reactivity by statin therapy in patients with cerebral small-vessel disease. The results may help to elucidate the preventive effect of statins and provide insights into the pathophysiology of cerebral small-vessel disease.