title: Plasma homocysteine level and the course of ischemic stroke.
abstract: Increased level of homocysteine (Hcy) in blood seems to influence negatively the course of ischemic stroke (IS), the possible mechanism of this action could be acceleration of oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of Hcy level in patients with IS on the prognosis 3 months after the stroke onset. 75 patients aged 68.27 +/- 12.62 years, with the diagnosis of first ever IS were examined. Patients with the symptoms corresponding with TACS at the beginning of stroke and with diminished level of consciousness were not included. The level of Hcy over 15 micromol/l was assessed as mild hiperhomocysteinemia (MHcy). 74 (98.7%) patients were assessed 3 months after IS onset in the Rankin scale. Recovery was assessed, according to Rankin Scale: good recovery (GR) 0-2, bad recovery (BR) 3-5 and death. MHcy was seen in 9 (14.5%) with GR and in 8 (66.7%) with BR (P = 0.0005). MHcy increases the risk of BR 11.78 times (95% CI 2.93-47.42).
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Medical Research Centre PAN, 5 Pawiński St., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland. pniewski@cmdik.pan.pl.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pniewski
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chodakowska-Zebrowska
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woźniak
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stepień
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stafiej
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine