The role of neurotrophic proteins as prognostic markers of neurological, functional and cognitive impairments in the acute period of cerebral infarction in patients with sleep apnea

The objective: to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of neurotrophic proteins BDNF, NGF, NT3 as prognostic markers of neurological, functional and cognitive impairments in the acute period of cerebral infarction in patients with and without sleep apnea.

Materials and methods. 52 patients were examined in the first 72 hours from the onset of cerebral infarction (CI). The survey included an assessment on the NIHSS, mRs and MOSA scales (in the first 72 hours and after a month); study of the concentration of proteins BDNF, NGF, NT3 in plasma by enzyme immunoassay and respiratory polygraphy. The patients were divided into the main group (32 patients with sleep apnea (SA)) and the comparison group (20 patients without SA). The control group consisted of 32 patients without CI and SA.

Results. In patients of main group at the end of the acute period of CI threshold concentrations of BDNF ≤1605.2 pg/ml (AUC - 80%), NGF ≤697.37 pg/ml (AUC - 78%) and NT3 ≤400.7 pg/ml (AUC - 70%) were established as effective prognostic markers of an unfavorable functional outcome (MRs≥3); BDNF ≤1994.8 pg/ml (AUC - 75%) - of severe neurological deficit (NIHSS> 4); BDNF ≤1724.7 pg/ml (AUC - 76%) and NGF ≤858.55 pg/ml (AUC - 73%) - of the presence of cognitive impairments (MOCA <26). In patients of the comparison group the threshold concentration of BDNF protein ≤1189.6 pg/ml was established as an effective prognostic marker of unfavorable functional outcome (AUC - 85%) and severe neurological deficit (AUC - 80%).

Conclusion. Neurotrophic proteins have good indicators of diagnostic accuracy as prognostic markers of neurological, functional, and cognitive impairments at the end of the acute period of CI in patients with and without SA.

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