Bun/creatinine ratio-based hydration for preventing stroke-in-evolution after acute ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine (Cr) ratio was recently reported to be an independent predictor of stroke-in-evolution (SIE) among patients who had suffered acute ischemic stroke. We aim to determine if providing hydration therapy to patients with a BUN/Cr ≥15 reduces the occurrence of SIE after acute ischemic stroke.


METHODS
This prospective interventional study included 189 patients (hydration group, n = 92; control group, n = 97) with acute ischemic stroke and a BUN/Cr ≥15. Hydration group received intravenous bolus (300-500 mL) saline followed by a maintenance saline infusion (40-80 mL/h for the first 72 h), while control group received maintenance saline infusion (40-60 mL/h for the first 24 h and 0-60 mL/h for 24-72 h). The study endpoint was the proportion of patients who developed SIE within the first three days of emergency department admission.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics between both groups. Patients in the hydration group received a significantly larger (all P < 0.001) median volume of infused saline than patients in the control group on Days 1 (2400 vs 1440 mL), 2 (1440 vs 0 mL), and 3 (1000 vs 0 mL). The proportion of patients who experienced SIE was significantly lower in the hydration group (9/92; 9.8%) compared with the control group (21/97; 21.6%) (Fig. 1, P = 0.026).


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary findings suggest that providing patients with acute ischemic stroke hydration therapy on the basis of their presenting BUN/Cr ratio may help reduce the occurrence of SIE and therefore improve prognosis.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University Of Science and Technology, Chiayi Campus, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: a3456711@ms65.hinet.net.
Leng-Chieh
LC
Lin
Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, ROC.
Jiann-Der
JD
Lee
Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, ROC; Clinical Proteomics Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Yen-Chu
YC
Hung
Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University Of Science and Technology, Chiayi Campus, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC.
Chia-Hao
CH
Chang
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, ROC.
Jen-Tsung
JT
Yang
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003681:Dehydration / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003404:Creatinine