Assessment of the levels of oxidative and anti-oxidative stress markers in subjects with cerebrovascular accident

Background: Stroke, a leading cause of global mortality and long-term disability, is characterized by a disturbance in cerebral blood supply, often leading to significant oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Objectives: This study investigated the levels of oxidative and antioxidative stress markers in cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients to elucidate their roles in disease progression and potential for intervention. Methods: Sixty CVA patients (30 males, 30 females, aged 40-80 years) and forty age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), and Vitamin E (Alpha-tocopherol) were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 18, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: The findings showed significantly higher serum MDA concentrations in CVA patients (7.14±0.03) compared to controls (6.83±0.03), indicating increased lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. Conversely, CVA patients exhibited significantly lower serum Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) levels (1.18±0.04) than controls (1.81±0.04), suggesting a compromised antioxidant status. While Vitamin E (Alpha-tocopherol) showed a slight, non-significant decrease in CVA patients, β-carotene levels were not statistically different between groups. Furthermore, female CVA patients had significantly higher serum MDA levels than male CVA patients, while male CVA patients presented with significantly higher serum Vitamin C concentrations. Conclusion: These findings provide strong evidence for the presence of significant oxidative stress and a diminished antioxidant defense in CVA patients, underscoring the critical role of free radical-mediated injury in stroke pathogenesis. The observed sex-based differences warrant further investigation. This study highlights the potential for therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress to improve outcomes in stroke management.