To investigate the relationship between the expression level of serum NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) and the degree of cerebral edema and functional prognosis in patients with cerebral hemorrhage after cerebral hemorrhage.

Fifty-eight patients with cerebral hemorrhage admitted to the Neurosurgery Department of People’s Hospital of Longhua District in Shenzhen from January 2019 to April 2020 were selected as the cerebral hemorrhage group, and the amount of cerebral hemorrhage and the amount of cerebral edema 5 d after the onset were measured. Ten healthy physical examiners in the same period were selected as the control group. The levels of serum NOX4 in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage were compared with those in the control group at 1-6 h, 3, 5 and 7 d after onset. The neurological function of patients with cerebral hemorrhage 6 months after cerebral hemorrhage was evaluated by modified Rankin scale (mRs) score, GOS score, National Institutes of Health stroke scale and activity of daily living score. According to mRs score, patients with cerebral hemorrhage were divided into good prognosis group and poor prognosis group, and the influencing factors of prognosis of patients with cerebral hemorrhage were analyzed. The relationship between serum NOX4 level and prognosis was analyzed.

Compared with the control group, the serum NOX4 levels in the cerebral hemorrhage group were significantly higher at 1-6 h, 3, 5 and 7 d after after the onset of cerebral hemorrhage (P<0.05). The expression level of NOX4, admission GCS score, bleeding volume and brain edema volume in the poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group (P<0.05). High NOX4 expression level, low GCS score, large amount of cerebral hemorrhage and large brain edema were the prognostic factors of patients with cerebral hemorrhage.

NOX4 may be a potential biomarker reflecting the degree of brain tissue edema, oxidative stress and function in patients with cerebral hemorrhage, and this cytokine deserves further study in the context of cerebral hemorrhage.