Metabolic and Rheological Disorders in Acute Period of Ischemic Stroke

Objective: to study the specific features of metabolism and blood rheological properties in the acute period of ischemic stroke (IS) in patients aged less than 50 years.

Subjects and methods. Thirty patients (mean age 45.1±1.1 years) having acute IS were examined. According to its severity, the patients were divided into 3 groups: 1) 8 patients with mild IS; 2) 11 patients with moderate IS; 3) 11 with severe IS. All Group 3 patients were treated at an intensive care unit. A control group comprised 20 healthy individuals (mean age 44.7±1.0 years). In all the patients, fasting blood homocysteine concentrations were measured on an IMMULITE One immunochemiluminescent analyzer (USA). The rheological properties of blood were examined, by measuring its viscosity on a rotary viscometer (Russia) at a shear rate of 10 to 200 sec-1. Fibrinogen concentrations were determined on an ACL-100 coagulograph.

Results. The patients who had experienced ischemic stroke at the age of under 50 years were found to have atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated homocysteine and fibrinogen levels and considerably increased blood viscosity, which correlated with the severity of their condition and the outcome of stroke. The highest values were noted in patients with severe ischemic stroke and a poor outcome.

Conclusion. Studies of homocysteine and fibrinogen concentrations and blood viscosity may be used as additional criteria for evaluating the severity of ischemic stroke and predicting its outcome in patients aged less than 50 years.

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