Dynamic changes of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in patients after transient ischemic attack or minor stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Only few data are available concerning variations of lipids and lipoproteins in the acute stage after ischemic cerebrovascular events. It was the aim of this study to investigate whether the lipid and lipoprotein levels obtained in the first few days after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a minor stroke (MS) actually reflect "correct' values or "changed' (ie, false low) values, as in patients after acute myocardial infarction.


METHODS
Total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels of 37 unselected patients with TIA or MS were determined within 12-48 hours (Group A) or within 49-168 hours (Group B) after the acute event. After a mean observation period of 15.3 months, all patients were re-examined; the results were compared with those of the baseline evaluation.


RESULTS
At the time of the baseline evaluation, TC and LDL-C levels of Group B patients were significantly lower than Group A levels. At the end of the observation period, however, Group A and Group B patients did not differ with regard to all four parameters. In comparison with the baseline examination, the values of Group A patients had not changed. In Group B patients, however, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG levels had significantly increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results strongly suggest that lipid and lipoprotein levels of patients with TIA or MS should be assessed within a maximum of 48 hours after the acute event. If the examination cannot be performed within that period, the determination of reliable values is possible only after several weeks or months.
Aull
S
S
Neurological Clinic, University of Vienna, Austria.
Lalouschek
W
W
Schnider
P
P
Sinzinger
H
H
Uhl
F
F
Zeiler
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol