Relationship between stroke severity and repolarization parameters in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate therelationship between repolarization parameters andNational Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scorein patients with acute ischemic stroke.Materials and Methods: The study comprised 97patients (males, 42; females, 55; 65 ± 16 years) with acuteischemic stroke. 17 patients were excluded. Patients weredivided into two groups based on the calculated NIHSSscore (Group 1, NIHSS score < 16; Group 2, NIHSS score≥ 16). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data for allpatients were collected. A 12-lead resting ECG wasrecorded at admission to the neurology care unit inpatients with acute ischemic stroke and were manuallymeasured with a ruler. QTc, QTd, QTcd, Tpe, Tpe/QTparameters were measured.Results: There were no significant differences amongdemographic parameters of patients. We found that QTc,QTd, QTcd, Tpe, Tpe/QT parameters were significantlyhigher in Group 2 than Group 1 patients.Conclusion: In this study, we found that acute ischemicstroke has been shown to cause changes in repolarizationparameters. Repolarization parameters are associated withstroke severity on admission in patients with acuteischemic stroke. Increased dispersion of repolarizationparameters make independent contributions to the risk ofarrhythmic cardiac death in patients with acute ischemicstroke. We suggested that especially severe ischemic strokepatients closely using cardiac monitoring during the first24 h.