Abstract
The abnormality of serum electrolyte concentration in patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) of acute stage have been reported by several authors. Serum electrolyte disorder is deemed to be a factor to impede the recovery of motor or mental function in CVA patients, but it is little known in chronic stage. In this study, the values of serum sodim and potassium concentrations were estimated in CVA patients of chronic stage, in relation to the diet ingestion, the administration of diuretics, and the blood pressure, The subjects were 14 cases of cerebral hemorrhage and 86 cases of cerebral infarction.
The level of serum potassium in CVA patients (3.93± 0.44mEq/L, mean value±S.D.) was significantly lower than that in normal age-matched controls (4.07± 0.32), The serum potassium level was particularly lower in cerebral hemorrhage (3.63±0.46) than in cerebral infarction (3.94±0.41). The serum potassium concentration was investigated by means of classifying the CVA patients into the subgroups, with or without oral diet ingestion, with or without diuretic administration, and with or without hypertension, because these factors might influence serum electrolytes. It was found that these factors had no significant influence on the level of serum potassium.
The serum sodium concentration in the CVA patients who could not take oral diet (138.3±2.6mEq/L) was significantly lower than that in CVA patients who could eat (141.0±2.7). Hypertension and diuretics administration had little influence on serum sodium concentration.
In chronic stage of CVA, the significant low concentration of serum potassium found in cerebral hemorrhage in comparison with cerebral infarction might be attributed to the extent of organic brain damage, and the maintenance of serum sodium concentration might have a certain connection with oral diet ingestion.
