ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A1531 PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AND MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-9 ACTIVITY AS BIOMARKERS OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN HEMORRHAGIC STROKE

Abstract Background and aims Neuroinflammation is a key mechanism of secondary brain injury in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and may contribute to post-stroke cognitive impairment. Proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are involved in blood–brain barrier disruption and neuronal damage; however, their relationship with cognitive dysfunction in ICH remains insufficiently defined. Methods Blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and MMP-9 activity were analyzed in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.Patients were stratified according to the presence and severity of cognitive impairment.Biomarker levels were compared with reference values and with patients without cognitive dysfunction. Correlation analysis was performed to assess associations between inflammatory markers and cognitive impairment severity. Results Patients with cognitive impairment demonstrated significantly elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-6 compared with reference values, with progressive increases corresponding to cognitive impairment severity.MMP-9 activity showed the most pronounced elevation, increasing several-fold and reaching maximal values in patients with severe cognitive impairment (p<0.001).In contrast, patients without cognitive impairment showed a significant increase only in MMP-9 activity, while cytokine levels remained close to reference ranges.Strong correlations were observed between inflammatory biomarkers and clinical indicators of cognitive dysfunction. Conclusions Cognitive impairment following intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with progressive activation of neuroinflammatory mechanisms.While MMP-9 activity increases even in the absence of cognitive dysfunction, elevated IL-1β and IL-6 levels are characteristic of cognitive decline progression.These findings highlight the role of inflammatory biomarkers in the pathophysiology of post-hemorrhagic cognitive impairment and support their potential prognostic value. Conflict of interest Nothing to disclose