Evaluation of Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Patients with Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke
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Introduction. Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke arise from different vascular mechanisms and may therefore produce different neurobiological responses. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is involved in neuronal repair, synaptic remodeling, and recovery after brain injury. This study compared serum BDNF concentrations between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients. Methods. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 stroke patients recruited consecutively, with 15 participants in each diagnostic group. Eligibility included age 30-70 years, neuroimaging-confirmed stroke, onset between 6 and 48 days, MMSE score >18, and no other neurological comorbidity. Stroke severity was summarized using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Serum BDNF was quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Group differences were examined using an independent sample t-test after assessment of normality and homogeneity; ANCOVA was performed to adjust for age, onset, and NIHSS. Results. Serum BDNF was higher in hemorrhagic stroke than in ischemic stroke (1.549 ± 0.016 vs. 1.457 ± 0.024 ng/mL, mean ± SEM; p = 0.004). The mean difference was 0.092 ng/mL, with a large standardized effect (Cohen’s d = 1.15). After adjustment for age, onset, and NIHSS, stroke type remained significantly associated with serum BDNF (β = 0.093; 95% CI: 0.030-0.155; p = 0.005) Conclusion. Serum BDNF differed between stroke subtypes, with higher levels in hemorrhagic stroke. These findings support the potential relevance of BDNF as a complementary biological marker in stroke research, although larger longitudinal studies are required before clinical application.
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