A study of prognostic significance of serum troponin I in patients with acute ischaemic stroke

Abstract

Background: Serum troponins have also been reported to be elevated in patients with acute cerebrovascular disease and poor clinical outcome. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 360 patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) to study the relationship between serum troponin I (TnI) levels and severity of AIS and to compare serum TnI levels in patients with favourable and unfavourable functional outcomes. Results: Their mean age was 58.8 ± 13.3 years; there were 230 (63.9%) males. Majority (n = 288; 80%) had presented with anterior circulation stroke and 58 (16.1%) had posterior circulation stroke. Majority (52.5%) had large artery atherosclerosis. The median (interquartile range) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 18 (16–20). Serum TnI was positive in 87 (24.2%) and negative in 273 (75.8%). The NIHSS score at admission was higher in the positive serum TnI group. Moderate-to-severe stroke, severe stroke and cardioembolic stroke were more frequently seen in the serum TnI-positive group. Outcome was favourable in 157 (47.7%) and unfavourable outcome was seen in 172 (52.3%) patients. Conclusions: Elevated serum TnI levels were associated with increased severity of AIS and poor functional outcome.

Keywords

• acute ischemic stroke
• prognosis
• serum troponin i