[Predictive value of serum ferritin in the prognosis of acute cerebrovascular accident].
BACKGROUND
Recent studies show that a raised level of serum ferritin indicates a poor prognosis in CVA patients, as do the well-known hyperglycemia, dyslipemia and arterial hypertension. The evolution and prognosis of acute cerebrovascular accidents are determined by a series of factors, some of which can be modified. This leads to a search for factors which can be modified and therefore influence the course of the illness.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the ferritin levels and other parameters during the course of the illness of patients with serious cerebral vascular pathology and evaluate their effect on prognosis.


METHODS
A prospective study was carried out on patients diagnosed as having CVA, admitted to the Neurology Department of the Miguel Servet Hospital (Zaragoza) during 1994, and who were in neurological coma (Glasgow scale less than 7) during the first 24 hours, and unable to swallow. The levels of various plasma parameters were determined (glucose, cholesterol, ferritin, etc.) on admission and then every 10 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma ferritin levels higher than those considered normal by the laboratory, in the first few hours after CVA, are an independent predictive factor suggesting unfavourable evolution of the vascular condition. Equally, raised ferritinemia in the first weeks after CVA indicates a worse prognosis. This laboratory test may be carried out on patients with acute CVA to obtain more information on which to base the prognosis.
Gracia-Naya
M
M
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España.
Usón-Martín
M
M
Serrano-González
C
C
Sanz-Paris
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000652:urine; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins
Valor predictivo de la ferritina sérica en el pronóstico del accidente cerebrovascular agudo.