SERUM URIC ACID LEVEL IN ACUTE ISCHAEMIC STROKE

INTRODUCTION: Stroke entails a high socioeconomic burden due to increased mortality and morbidity. Early identification of individual at risk could be of helpful in designing primary prevention strategies(1). The role of serum uric acid (SUA) level as an independent risk factor for stroke has been questioned for many years(2). Evidence from epidemiological studies suggest that elevated SUA levels may predict an increased risk for stroke and cardiovascular events(2),(3). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. study the clinical profile of stroke patient with normal and elevated uric acid. 2. To study the incidence of stroke with normal and elevated uric acid and its correlation with other risk factors (i.e. hypertension, diabetes, alcohol, hyperlipidemia). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was carried out on 100 patients of acute ischaemic stroke. In each case, the diagnosis of recent ischaemic stroke was confirmed by CT scan of brain. Patients having disease known to increase serum uric acid or taking drugs which can cause hyperuricemia were excluded from study. Detailed clinical and physical examination with relevant investigation was done in all cases and statistical analysis with Chi square and student 't' test were applied wherever appropriate and p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In present study total 100 cases out of them 54% Patients ware male and 46% patients ware female, majority of patients (62%) were in the age group of 50 to 80 years. Mean age (+/- SD) of stroke patients was 58.73 +/- 13.97 years, Mean serum uric acid (+/- SD) of hyperuricemic patients 9.52 +/- 2.56 mg/dl, in patient below 60 years 6.01 +/- 2.93 mg/dl, in patient above 60 years 6.59 +/- 2.40 mg/dl, amongst hypertensive 6.30 +/- 2.64mg/dl, amongst diabetic 6.90 +/- 3.02mg/dl, Mean SSS Score in patient with elevated serum uric acid was 38.31 +/- 11.31 vs. 31.35 +/- 12.64 in patient with normal serum uric acid p value equals 0.0116. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hyperuricemia in acute ischaemic stroke patients in present study was 29%. Alcoholism amongst male showed statistically significant positive correlation with hyperuricemia in patient with acute ischaemic stroke. Patient with hyperuricemia were having poor neurological status as compared to patients without hyperuricemia when assessed at the time of admission showing statistically significant relation. Outcome was also poor with rising level of serum uric acid but no statistically significant relationship was found in between outcome of patient and hyperuricemia in patient with acute ischaemic stroke.