Dynamic changes in serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted levels in patients with minor intracerebral hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the time expression profile of serum monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) after minor intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODS: This study was carried out in the Department of Neurology in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China. Fifteen consecutive hospitalized patients with minor ICH were enrolled from July 2008 to December 2008. The patients’ serum levels of MCP-1 and RANTES were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on days 1-3, 7, 14, and 30 after the onset of ICH, and compared with that of 10 controls.

RESULTS: The serum MCP-1 levels increased immediately on days 1-3 (p=0.000) after onset, and then decreased slightly on day 7 (p=0.001), and day 14 (p=0.000); after day 14, the levels continued to increase and reached their highest levels on day 30 (p=0.000). No statistical differences in MCP-1 levels were found between any time points. The RANTES levels at any time point did not differ significantly from the controls. The levels of MCP-1 and RANTES were not correlated with the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, brain hematoma volumes, acute neurologic impairment, or 3-month outcome.

CONCLUSION: The persistent elevation of serum MCP-1 levels after minor ICH may contribute to the acute damage and the repair following an ICH.