The effect of early rehabilitation intervention on serum neuron-specific enolase in patients with acute cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To observe the effects of early rehabilitation on the serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) levels of patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods Sixty patients with acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into a rehabilitation group and a control group. All received routine treatment at the acute stage, including anti-platelet aggregation medication, drugs for improving microcirculation, neurotrophic agents and prompt treatment of any complications. Patients in the rehabilitation group also received systemic rehabilitation training beginning immediately after their vital signs had been stabilized. NSE in serum was assayed before treatment and after 3, 7and 14 days. National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) scores were evaluated at each time point, and the two groups were compared. Results There was no significant difference in serum NSE or NIHSS scores between the two groups pre-treatment. Both groups improved to a certain extent, but the improvements in the rehabilitation group were significantly better than in the control group, as their NSE levels at 7 days and NIHSS scores at 14 days were both significantly better. Conclusions Early rehabilitation intervention contributes to reducing serum NSE levels after acute cerebral infarction, lessening brain injury, and thereby promoting the recovery of damaged neural function.That may be one of the mechanisms by which early rehabilitation promotes functional recovery in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Key words: Cerebral infarction ; Rehabilitation ; Neuron specific enolase