ISCHAEMIC STROKE - CLINICAL PROFILE AND EVALUATION WITH ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY AND MRI BRAIN

BACKGROUND Acute Ischaemic Stroke (AIS) is characterised by thrombotic or embolic occlusion of a cerebral artery. Electroencephalography (EEG) is an electrophysiological monitoring method to record electrical activity of the brain measuring voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current within the neurons of the brain. Our study evaluated stroke with EEG and MRI Brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our cross-sectional study enrolled 150 patients of ischaemic stroke from July 2012 till July 2015. A detailed study of 150 cases of ischaemic stroke with mode of presentation, Laboratory data, MRI scan and EEG features has been made. RESULTS Majority of patients are aged above 60 years. Regarding risk factors, 76% (114) of patients had hypertension, 66% (99) had diabetes mellitus, 62% (93) were smokers and 42% (63) had history of alcoholism; 105 patients (70%) had abnormal total cholesterol level, 114 patients (76%) had abnormal triglyceride levels and 117 patients (78%) had abnormal HDL levels. Abnormal EEG was observed in 87 patients (58%) out of a total of 150 patients, out of which 45 patients developed post stroke seizures. CONCLUSION Elderly individuals are at increased risk of stroke. Comorbidities and lipid abnormalities increase the risk significantly. MRI is the most useful investigation for diagnosis and management in ischaemic stroke. Abnormal EEG and generalised slowing pattern observed specifically are associated with complications and mortality after acute ischaemic stroke. Larger infarct volume is associated with higher delta power in EEG.