Abstract 029: Malondialdehyde as a Clinical Indicator for Oxidative Stress and Functional Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Introduction Acute Ischemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with Social Isolation (SI) being a contributing factor to worse functional outcomes. The molecular and metabolic changes that occur after AIS are not fully understood. One mechanism known to trigger systemic inflammatory responses and neuronal death characteristic of stroke is the rapid increase in Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress (OS). New data reports that SI has been shown to increase OS in mouse models. One emerging biomarker able to reliably measure OS is Malondialdehyde (MDA), a reactive carbonyl compound originating from polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation and lipid peroxidation. Due to its composition, MDA readily reacts with lipid membranes, making it a sensitive OS biomarker. This study assessed MDA levels in the plasma of AIS patients to evaluate its ability to predict long‐term functional outcomes and complications arising from SI. Hypothesis We hypothesized that OS levels correlate with long‐term functional outcomes in AIS patients and varies based on non‐modifiable risk factors such as sex and race. Methods In this study, we used peripheral blood plasma from healthy volunteers (HV, N=24), and from AIS patients (N=27) at 3d and 7d post‐stroke to capture the temporal profile of MDA after injury. Social Isolation was measured utilizing ULCA Loneliness scale and Lubben Social Network Scale collected during patients’ hospitalization. Results AIS patients had an increase in MDA levels compared to the control group, as seen in prior literature. We found a significant positive correlation with age of AIS patients and higher levels of MDA (p<0.05). There was a positive trend with BMI and levels of MDA. As expected, non‐lonely AIS patients had increased levels of MDA when compared to non‐lonely HV (p<0.05). Interestingly, lonely AIS patients had a decrease in MDA when compared to their lonely HV counterparts (p<0.001). Stroke patients with larger social networks had decreased MDA levels. There was no relationship between levels of MDA during hospitalization and functional outcome at 3 months post discharge. Conclusion MDA appears to be a promising biomarker for oxidative stress in AIS patients, with notable associations with age, BMI, and social network and isolation. These findings underscore the complex relationship between OS, social factors, and stroke outcomes. Further research is needed to understand the impact of OS and its correlation with SI so that new treatment plans can be developed for stroke survivors.