NEUROHYPOPHYSEAL AVP CONCENTRATION IN STROKE PATIENTS

Neurohypophysial arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations were determ ined by RIA in 9 patients with cerebral infarction, 11 patients with i ntracerebral hemorrhage, 5 patients,vith subarachnoid hemorrhage and 5 control subjects. The results showed that neurohypophysial AVP concen tration in patients with cerebral infarction increased by 225.8% as co mpared with the control subjects (P<0.05), and the AVP concentrations in patients with intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage did not cha nge significantly. Brain herniation as a result of intracranial hypert ension, gastrointestinal bleeding and hyperglycemia (two clinical mani festations of stress) was seen more frequently in hemorrhagic stroke p atients than in ischemic stroke patients, These findings suggest that the ischemic brain damage may contribute to the elevation of neurohypo physial AVP concentration in patients with cerebral infarction.