Biochemical parameters of patients with clinically silent cerebral lesions depend on gender – a preliminary study

Background
As the availability and quality of imaging techniques improve, more and more patients are identified with no history of transient ischaemic attack or stroke in whom imaging shows brain infarcts. Clinical silent vascular cerebral lesions (CSVCL) include asymptomatic brain infarction, white matter hyperintensities and brain atrophy. The impact of CSVCL as cerebrovascular risk factors on brain injury increases the likelihood of later life dementia. Cerebrovascular risk factors of stroke, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, eating habits, obesity, smoking and alcoholism, are obvious in medical practise. CSVCL also increases the risk of stroke. The blood’s properties are responsible for proper tissue perfusion of the brain.

Objectives
Analysis of the different biochemical parameters of blood in women and men with CSVCL.

Material and methods
45 patients were evaluated. CSVCL was diagnosed by means of magnetic resonance imaging. All patients had blood count, blood sugar, urea, creatine serum, thyroid tests, liver tests, lipid profile, fibrinogen, IgM, IgG, IgA and albumin/globulin ratio (A/G) performed. The control group (39 people) had no such symptoms in the central nervous system. Biochemical tests of blood were perform according to routine procedures – automatic analysis in a hospital laboratory.

Results
There were observed lower values of haematocrit and IgA, and higher of ERS and IgM were observed more in the group of women than men, as well as there being a higher value of IgA and a lower albumin/globulin indicator in women with CSVCL.

Conclusions
The analysis of the results collected for women and men indicates the existence of different mechanisms of CSVCL occurrence.