Predictors of severity and outcome and roles of intravenous thrombolysis and biomarkers in first ischemic stroke

Abstract

Aim: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability. The proportion of patients receiving recombinant tissue plasminogen activator is low in our country. Biomarkers to identify patients at risk of severe disease, and guide treatment and prognosis would be valuable. This article aims to identify the factors that can independently prognosticate the acute phase of ischemic stroke. Methods: All patients with the first episode of ischemic stroke admitted to the Neurology Department between 1st December 2017 to 31st March 2018 were included in this pilot study. Stroke severity was evaluated using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Patients being admitted within 4.5 h of onset of symptoms were thrombolysed with injection alteplase. For each patient, 4 serum biomarkers (D-dimer, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein and neuron specific enolase) were evaluated at admission and 24 h later. Discharged patients were assessed on an outpatient basis using the modified Rankin scale. The study primarily aimed to identify the factors predicting the severity and outcome of stroke, and to evaluate the effect of thrombolysis on the outcome. The secondary aim was to evaluate the role of biomarkers to predict the unfavorable outcome and the chance of post thrombolysis hemor-