Relations to Plasma Fibrinogen Concentration and Subtype, Prognostic Influence in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Kim, Jae Hyuk; Shin, Dong Jin; Park, Hyeon Mi; Park, Kee Hyung; Seong, Young Hee; Kim, Tae Young; Kim, Su Hyun; Lim, Eun Kwang; Lee, Yeong Bae

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Previous epidemiological studies have suggested that hyperfibrinogenemia is an independent risk factor for cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. Fibrinogen is a key factor in the coagulation cascade, and it is suggested to play in a significant role in atherosclerosis. However, there have been relatively few studies regarding the relationship between the level of fibrinogen and prognostic influence in stroke subtypes. We prospectively evaluated that whether plasma fibrinogen levels in the acute stage were related to clinical outcome in each subtype of acute ischemic stroke.
METHODS
Acute ischemic stroke was classified by the Trial of Org 10172 in the Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification. Large atrery atherosclerosis (LAA), and small vessel occlusion (SVO) were included in the classification; cardioembolic (CE) occlusion, and other causes and undetermined causes were excluded from the classficiation. The level of fibrinogen was determined within 24 hours after stroke. Stroke severity and outcome was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission (baseline) and follow-up (4 weeks later). The NIHSS changes were compared from baseline to follow-up. Patients with NIHSS changes were divided into two groups: the good group (NIHSS had improved) and poor group (NIHSS had no change or had worsened). Patients were placed into two groups based on the plasma fibrinogen level: the normal group (plasma fibrinogen level of 200~400mg/dl) and high group (plasma fibrinogen level >400mg/dl). The level of plasma fibrinogen and changes of NIHSS were analyzed by the Chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression.
RESULTS
A total of 619 patients with acute ischemic stroke were studied. Among the 619 patients, there were 251 patients with LAA and 229 patients with SVO. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that a high level of plasma fibrinogen (p < 0.001), a high level of C-reactive protein (p < 0.001) and the presence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.026) were related to poor prognosis with acute stage ischemic stroke. Partial correlation analysis showed that the plasma fibrinogen levels were related to LAA (p = 0.05) and NIHSS at admission (p = 0.007) in patients with a high plasma fibrinogen level. However, there was no statistical significance of ischemic stroke subtype and NIHSS in patients with a normal level of plasma fibrinogen.
CONCLUSION
An elevated level of plasma fibrinogen seemed to be associated with LAA in acute ischemic stroke and with a poor clinical outcome.