Abstract

Hyperglikemia increases the blood protein glycosylated reaction. Central nervous system (CNS) organic diseases may change the systemic metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate blood glycosylated protein levels (fructosamine - FA) in patients with CNS tumors. Patients were divided into two groups: those with a primary brain tumor (n=12, mean age - 58 years) and those with a metastatic brain tumor (n=12, mean age - 57.9), without diabetes or cachexy. Their protein, albumin and glucose levels were within normal values. We determined FA levels by means of the frustosamine reductive method in relation to nitrotetrazoline blue, using the Boehringer Mannheim GmbH Diagnostica set. p < 0.02 was considered as statistically significant, evaluated by means of the Mann-Whitney U test. The control group comprised 11 patients (mean age - 63.7 years). We noted an increase in fructosamine levels in patients with CNS tumors. A statistically significant difference was observed in patients with metastatic tumors, in comparison with controls (287.8 µmol/l vs. 214.9 µmol/l). An elevation in FA levels was evidence of increased glycosylation, in CNS tumor patients, due to an increase of mean glucose values in the past 2-4 weeks.

Keywords: primary brain tumors, serum fructosamine level, adults