ABSTRACT
Forty five patients with acute cerebral infarction were randomized to two groups: in treatment group patients received local subhypothermia and conventional therapy, in control group patients received conventional therapy only. Clinical outcome was assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission and at 7, 14 and 30 d after treatment. Serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), nitrogen monoxide ( NO ) , superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin-6 (IL-6 ) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were detected on admission and at 7,14 d after treatment The study showed that NIHSS scores of treatment group on 14, 30 d were lower than those of control group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Serum NSE, NO, IL-6 and ICAM-1 levels significantly decrease; while serum SOD levels increased (P ＜ 0. 05). In conclusion, local subhypothermia therapy can inhibit inflammatory reaction, reduce oxygen free radical formation and improve neurological function in patients with acute cerebral infarction.