| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 53
| Issue : 3 | Page : 146-150 |
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Prognostic value of D-dimer measurement in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Yousry A Abd-Elhamid, Mohamed A Tork, Mohammad O Abdulghani
Department of Neurology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Correspondence Address:
Yousry A Abd-Elhamid
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo
Egypt
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
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Background D-dimer, a marker of plasmin-mediated fibrin degradation, is cross-linked to fibrin degradation products and indicates vessel occlusion.
Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of D-dimer serum level as a serological marker in the diagnosis and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke in Egyptian population.
Patients and methods This prospective observational case–control study was conducted on 50 patients with acute ischemic stroke. Ten healthy age-matched and sex-matched individuals were taken as controls. The patient and control groups were subjected to detailed history taking, examination, and D-dimer level assessment. Neurologic examination using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was carried out at admission and on discharge after treatment. Serum D-dimer level was evaluated within the first 24 h of admission. The outcome of the patients was graded using the modified Rankin scale on admission and 1 month of treatment.
Results The mean D-dimer level was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the levels of D-dimer and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (P = 0.002) and the initial infarct volume in MRI of the brain (P = 0.000). The mean D-dimer level was significantly higher in patients with unfavorable outcome than in patients with favorable outcome, measured using the modified Rankin scale (P = 0.029).
Conclusion Plasma D-dimer levels were significantly higher in patients with acute ischemic stroke than in controls. D-dimer levels increased with increasing severity of stroke and with increasing infarction volume. Moreover, D-dimer level could predict stroke outcome. |
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