title: Prediction of worse outcome by systemic atherosclerosis following acute ischemic stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between atherosclerosis and the short-term outcome following an acute ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative measurements of ankle brachial index (ABI), color-coded carotid duplex (CCD), electrocardiography (ECG), and other cardiovascular risk factors were performed for acute ischemic stroke patients. Prevalent cardiovascular disease (PCVD) was defined when there were evident abnormal findings of ABI, CCD, or ECG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 68 patients, there were 19 with PCVD, 12 with abnormal ABI, 8 with abnormal CCD, and 4 with abnormal ECG. Patients with PCVD had worse Barthel index (BI) at discharge and BI difference between admission and discharge if compared to those with non-PCVD (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ankle brachial index, CCD and ECG may serve as convenient quantitative parameters of atherosclerosis. Patients with evident systemic atherosclerosis may have greater vascular burden, resulting in worse short-term functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Lun
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tsong-Hai
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shan-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Yeu-Jhy
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000502:physiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*