title: Association between Coagulation Function and Cerebral Microbleeds in Ischemic Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and/or Rheumatic Heart Disease.
abstract: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), which indicate hemorrhage-prone disease, may associate with hemostatic abnormalities, but the association between CMBs and coagulation function is uncertain. We aimed to examine this possible association. The following coagulation function indicators were evaluated in 85 consecutive ischemic stroke patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and/or rheumatic heart disease: prothrombintime (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen. Indicators were assessed within 24 h after admission. CMBs were identified based on published criteria by two experienced stroke neurologists working independently. PT, APPT, and levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen were compared between patients with and without CMBs using univariate and multivariate analysis. CMBs were detected in 48 patients (56.5%), and fibrinogen levels in these patients were independently and significantly higher than in patients without CMBs after adjustment (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.20-3.90,P=0.01), whereas the two types of patients did not differ significantly in PT, APPT, or D-dimer levels. The presence of CMBs in ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation and/or rheumatic heart disease is associated with elevated levels of fibrinogen. Larger prospective studies are needed to verify this association and explore the mechanisms involved.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.
authors.forename: Deren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.
authors.forename: Bian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.
authors.forename: Shihong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.
authors.forename: Chenchen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Cerebral microbleeds; Coagulation function; Fibrinogen; Ischemic stroke