Changes of VE-cadherin andarginine vasopressin in patients with acute brain injuries

Abstract

：Objective To observe thechanges of serum vascular endothelium-cadherin (VE-cadherin) and plasma argininevasopressin (AVP) in patients with acute brain injury, and to investigate the VE-cadherinand plasma AVP related to brain edema and prognosis following acute brain injury. MethodELISA was used to measure the serum VE-cadherin level and radioimmunoassay was used tomeasure serial concentration of AVP in plasma of 110 patients with acute brain injury 12hours and 3 and 5 days after brain injury. The outcome was estimated in combination ofclinical manifestation, iconographic findings and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Results Thelevels of VE-cadherin and AVP increased significantly over 12 hours after brain injurywith reduction of GCS. The severer brain injury resulted in higher levels of VE-cadherinand AVP, and prolongation of peak brain edema (P < 0.01). VE-cadherin levels showedpositive correlation with severity of brain edema (r = 0.69, P < 0.01) and prolongationof brain edema (r = 0.70.P < 0.01). AVP levels had positive correlation with severityof brain edema (r = 0.65, P < 0.01) and prolongation of brain edema (r = 0.64, P <0.01). Furthermore, there were significant increases in VE-cadherin and AVP levels inpatients with low GOS groups (P < 0.01). The VE-cadherin and AVP leveb in poor outcomegroup persistently increased for 5 days after brain injury and were higher than those ingood outcome group and normal control group. There were a correlation between VE-cadherinand AVP in patients with acute brain injury (r = 0.75, P < 0.01). ConclusionsVE-cadherin and AVP leveb are closely associated with the prognosis of patients afteracute brain injury. VE-cadherin and AVP may play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis ofbrain edema after acute brain injury.