L-Glutamate Profile in Acute Ischemic Stroke After Intra Arterial Heparin Flushing

Objective: The intra-arterial heparin flushing (IAHF) is one of the endovascular procedure that in facts have benefit effect to improving the motoric function after acute ischemic stroke, but the exact mechanism not yet known clearly. The L-glutamate is a neurotransmitter that have important role in the brain metabolism. The purpose of this study is to know how the IAHF affect the Glutamate concentration in the blood and muscle function which measured by Manual Muscle Testing-Medical Research Councils (MMT-MRC) in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients. Method: The thirty-nine patients of acute ischemic stroke that admitted to hospital, was studied of L-Glutamate serum profile. The patients grouping depend on onset ( 7 days, 7-14 days after stroke onset), site of infarction (cortical and subcortical), and size of infarction (lacunar and wide infarct). The outcome of motoric function was recorded and measured by MRCs (Motoric Research Council Scale; 0-5) in the arm weakness, MRCs 18; severe, 18-23; moderate, 24-29; mild). The L-glutamate serum level measured before and after IAHF. Results: Characteristic of sample = Onset: 7 days = Before: 19,51±6,74. After: 20,64±7,45. P = 0,474. 7-14 days =Before: 18,70±6,08, After :22,70±7,72, p=0,046. Site of infarction; cortical = Before: 21,63±9,55, After: 25,94±8,22. P = 0,098; Subcortical = Before: 18,32±4,3, after: 19,69±6,58. p = 0,370. Size of infarct: Lacunar = before: 18,32±4,3. After: 19,69±6,48. p= 0,370. Non-Lacunar = Before: 21,63±9,55. After: 25,94±8,22, p = 0,098. Muscle Strength: MRCs 18 = before: 16,68±5,13, after: 19,67±5,72, p= 0,060. MRCs (Upper Arms) 18-23; Before: 24,70±4,72, After: 27,95±6,93, p = 0,372. MRCs 24-29; Before: 18,17±6,93 After: 20,53±7,89, p = 0,248. Conclusion: The L-glutamate serum level was increasing after IAHF, but not significantly different according to the all of group in this study.