Abstract:Objective To explore the effects of rat nerve growth factor on the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and serum cytokines in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 216 patients with acute cerebral infarction admitted to hospital from March 2015 to June 2017 were included and divided into control group and observation group (n=108, each) according to the different treatment schemes.The routine treatment of cerebral infarction was performed in control group, while the intramuscular injection of rat nerve growth factor was given based on the routine treatment in observation group.The degree of neurological deficit, serum levels of VEGF, BDNF, IGF-1 and serum cytokines were compared between two groups. Results After 14 d of treatment, the scores of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were significantly lower than those before treatment in both groups and was statistically lower in observation group than that in control group (all P<0.05); levels of VEGF, BDNF, IGF-1 were obviously higher than those before treatment in both groups and were statistically higher in observation group than those in control group (P<0.05); levels of serum interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) significantly decreased in both groups compared with before treatment and were significantly lower in observation group than those in control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion For patients with acute cerebral infarction, application of rat nerve growth factor can significantly reduce the degree of nerve injury, increase the serum levels of VEGF, BDNF and IGF-1 and inhibit the production of some serum related cytokines obviously.