Abstract
Background and Purpose: Predicting neurological deterioration in ischemic stroke patients with initially mild symptoms at onset is difficult in the very early phase of treatment. Prevention is often difficult after neurological deterioration. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of progressed cases.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 451 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to our institute within 48 h of their symptom onset. Their National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores on admission were equal to or less than five points. Progressing ischemic stroke is defined as neurological deterioration when a two-point or more increase is observed in NIHSS scores within one week of onset. We statistically investigated the correlation between progressing ischemic stroke and patient characteristics, stroke mechanisms, lesion location, and medication taken.
Results: One hundred and twenty four patients (27.5%) were defined as having progressing ischemic stroke. Based on logistic regression analysis, older age, non-lacunar infarction, and corona radiata or pontine lesion were defined as independent risk factors for progressing ischemic stroke.
Conclusions: Corona radiata or pontine lesion was an independent risk factor for progressing ischemic stroke. Aggressive intervention at the very early stage of treatment should be considered in such cases to improve the prognosis.
