Aurel Simion
University of Oradea, Romania
Keynote: J Neurol Neurophysiol
Background: Oxidative stress in acute ischaemic stroke was extensively evaluated in the past years. Attempts to influence it in animal
models of stroke showed benefit, but in human clinical trials the results were disappointing.
Material & Methods: The oxidative stress was evaluated by sequentially measuring the malondialdehyde levels in a series of 100
consecutive ischaemic stroke patients. Stroke subtype was classified according to the TOAST criteria. Patients with undetermined
stroke subtype and with other causes of increased oxidative stress were excluded.
Results: Oxidative stress was significantly increased only in cardioembolic stroke. This can be explained by the fact that the
embolus is not adherent to the vessel wall and often undergoes spontaneous fragmentation and lysis, reestablishing the blood flow.
Spontaneous recanalisation of the vessel leads also to haemorrhagic transformation often seen in cardioembolic strokes. On the
other hand, reestablishing the blood flow supplies the oxygen which is needed for oxidative stress to develop. These findings can also
explain the experimental results found in animal models, in which ischaemic stroke was accomplished by temporarily clamping the
carotid artery. Further developing the idea, antioxidant therapy could prove beneficial in those stroke subtypes in which blood flow
is reestablished, namely embolic stroke, after thrombolysis or mechanical clot retrieval by diminishing the magnitude of reperfusion
injuries.
Conclusion: It would be worth reevaluating the effect of antioxidant therapy only in cardioembolic stroke and in the context of vessel
recanalisation.
Recent Publications
1. The efficacy of nitric oxide in stroke (enos) trial--where do we stand in Romania? S Ildiko, S Szabolcs, A Jurcau, A
Simion, E Sisak, C Renton, S Ellende, ... Romanian Journal of Neurology 11 (2) 3 2012.
2. Improved post-ischaemic stroke recovery over 1 year with Escitalopram for 3 months. A Jurcau, A Simion European
Journal of Neurology 23, 614 2016.
3. Autonomic dysfunctions and sleep disturbances identify Parkinson's disease patients at risk for developing dementia
A Jurcau, A Simion European Journal of Neurology 23, 529 2016.
4. Increased Hemorrhagic Risk Due To Association Of Cephalosporins And Oral Anticoagulants A Jurcau, A Simion
Cerebrovascular Diseases 31, 119, 2011.
Aurel Simion has graduated from the Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy Tg Mures in 1988 and completed his PhD thesis on the oxidative stress in acute ischaemic stroke in 2007. He is currently working as Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oradea, and as a Senior Neurologist at the Clinical Municipal Hospital Oradea being Head of the Neurological Rehabilitation ward. His area of expertise includes cerebrovascular diseases and lumbar disc herniation.
E-mail: a.simion1962@yahoo.com
