|
Background: The stress response that occurs after the event of acute stroke causes the activation of the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Certain studies have found that increased serum cortisol level in patients with acute stroke is related to larger infarct volume, greater stroke severity and poor outcome, including death. Materials and methods: All patients were included in the study who was admitted within 6 hours in the hospital after the episode of stroke. Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS)ii was monitored in all patients from admission. SSS was performed every 2 hours in the first 24 hours, every 4 hours in the next 48 hours and then daily up to day 7. Blood samples were obtained for routine investigation and estimation of serum cortisol. No patients had blood samples drawn for cortisol determination between 01:00 and 07:00 am. Result: 50% of the group is male and 50% are female, with an average age range of 50 to 59. The cortisol level was 637 nmol/L on average. Acute ischemic stroke affected 78 out of the 90 patients, while acute hemorrhagic stroke affected 12. The average time was 11.53 hours, and the average SSS score was 22.90. The SSS and serum cortisol correlation coefficient was -0.990, showing a significant link. High serum cortisol levels were associated with lower SSS scores, and the p-value was < 0.001, indicating statistical significance. Conclusion: A stress response causing an increase in serum cortisol occurs in AIS. This response is detrimental to the patient. The serum cortisol at baseline can be considered a marker of severity, short- and long-term prognosis, and mortality after AIS.
|
View PDF
