Neurotrophic factors as markers of early central nervous system damage in working-age patients with chronic cerebral ischemia

Objective. To identify significant neurotrophic markers of central nervous system (CNS) damage in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) of working age. Materials and methods. The study involved 126 patients. The main group included individuals (n = 108) with signs of CNS damage corresponding to stage I–II CCI; the control group consisted of 18 patients without signs of CNS damage. All patients underwent immunological testing to determine the levels of BDNF, GFAP, S100 protein, CNTF, IL4, and IL2. The level of psychoemotional background was assessed using the Spielberger–Hanin Anxiety Scale and the Beck Depression Scale. Results. In the main group, a significant decrease in BDNF levels was detected, while GFAP and S100 protein levels were significantly higher compared to the control group, which is a marker of damage to brain tissue and glial cells. Analysis of the psychoemotional status in the main group revealed a direct correlation between depression levels and S100 protein (r = 0.72) and an inverse relationship between GFAP levels and age (r = -0.77). Assessment of age-related features of immunological markers of CNS damage showed that S100 protein levels were higher in patients younger than 50 years, indicating a high intensity of damage not only to brain tissue but also to glial cells and the peripheral nervous system in young patients