RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of plasma cross-linked D-dimer (XDP) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) on the infarct volume and neurological function deficit in patients with cerebral infarction (CI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Plasma XDP and NSE levels were measured in 66 CI patients on the different days after onset and also in 46 normal individuals, and the changes in XDP and NSE levels were analyzed in the CI patients with different infarct volume and neurological function deficit scores.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Within 48 h following CI onset, plasma XDP and NSE levels increased significantly (P<0.01) and reached the highest levels on day 5 (P<0.001), recovering the normal level till day 18. Plasma XDP and NSE levels were significantly higher in patients with moderate to large infarct volume and in those with moderate to severe neurological deficits than in those with small infarct volume and mild neurological deficits (P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increment of XDP and NSE levels is an important pathological process in CI in close relation to the infarct volume and neurological deficits. XDP and NSE may serve as reliable indices for early diagnosis and evaluation of CI.</p>