Hypoalbuminemia in acute ischemic stroke patients: frequency and correlates.
OBJECTIVE
Hypoalbuminemia in acute stroke patients is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency and correlates of hypoalbuminemia in unselected cohort of patients with acute cerebral infarction.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Seven hundred and five consecutive ischemic stroke patients.


METHODS
Albumin and other serum protein fractions were measured within 36 h after stroke using electrophoresis.


RESULTS
Hypoalbuminemia defined as serum albumin level <35 g/l was found in 45.5% of patients. Serum albumin level correlates significantly with age (r=-0.13, P<0.01), Scandinavian Stroke Scale score (r=0.14, P<0.01), body temperature on admission (r=0.14, P<0.01), leukocyte count (r=-0.17, P<0.01), fasting glucose (r=-0.16, P<0.01), total cholesterol (r=0.14, P<0.01), alpha1-globulin (r=-0.48, P<0.01), alpha2-globulin (r=-0.49, P<0.01), beta-globulin (r=-0.26, P<0.01) and gamma-globulin (r=-0.35, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoalbuminemia is a frequent finding in acute stroke patients and it is associated with more severe stroke and pro-inflammatory pattern of serum protein electrophoresis.
Dziedzic
T
T
Department of Neurology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Dziedzic@cm-uj.krakow.pl
Pera
J
J
Slowik
A
A
Gryz-Kurek
E A
EA
Szczudlik
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001831:Body Temperature; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D002784:Cholesterol