Abstract

Introduction: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the recommended surgical procedure in the prevention of ischemic stroke. However, this procedure may lead to vascular neurological complications. The aim of the study was to measure serum carnosine dipeptidase 1 (CNDP1) and ubiquitin C - terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) as markers of brain damage in patients that underwent CEA due to high-grade internal carotid artery stenosis.
Material and Methods: This study included 25 patients. Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein at three different intervals (within a 24 hour period prior to CEA, 12 hours following surgery, and 48 hours after surgery). Serum CNDP1 and UCHL1 levels were measured by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: The study showed that serum CNDP1 and UCHL1 levels were significantly decreased 12 hours after CEA when compared to the level before the surgery. Furthermore, these enzymes levels were normalized 48 hours after CEA.
Conclusion: Data from our study showed that CEA significantly affects serum CNDP1 and UCHL1 levels. Moreover, these enzyme levels seems to reflect a brain ischemia resulting from severe internal carotid artery stenosis in patients undergoing CEA.

Key words: Carnosine dipeptidase 1, carotid endarterectomy, ischemic stroke, ubiquitin C - terminal hydrolase L1