European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction: A stroke is defined by an abrupt onset of neurologic deficit that is attributable to a focal vascular cause. Thus, the definition of stroke is clinical; and laboratory studies including brain imaging are used to support the diagnosis. The clinical manifestations of stroke are highly variable because of the complex anatomy of the brain and its vasculature. Fibrinogen plays a key role in blood clotting. Fibrinogen plays a role in the process of aggregation of platelets. It crosslinks the platelets by the process of binding the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor on the surface of platelets. Hence, Measurement of plasma fibrinogen levels could be more useful than other acute phase reactants such as C-reactive protein, as fibrinogen is more specific to vascular disease. Material and Methods: A Cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medicine. Patients with age>18yrs, in both genders, who met the clinical and radiological diagnostic criteria of stroke within 24 hours along with non-stroke controls with matched age, sex and risk factors. Patients with age>18yrs, in both genders, who met the clinical and radiological diagnostic criteria of stroke within 24 hours. All patients older than 18 years present with features of stroke like Hemiplegia, hemiparesis, hemianaesthesia, speech abnormality, with or without cranial nerve palsy were enrolled in the study. Results: In our study, 150 no of people were enrolled in our study after exercising inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among them 61-80 years of age groups were mostly affected by stroke followed by age group 46-60 years. Mean age of presentation was 69.89±12.75 in ischemic stroke group and 64±12.99 in hemorrhagic stroke group. Mean age among control is 66±13.10. The mean fibrinogen level among 50 ischemic stroke cases was 396.6±116, 50 cases of hemorrhagic stroke was 310.9±78.21 & among controls was 209.2±117.5. The p-value for mean fibrinogen between cases and controls was 0.001. There was statistically significant difference between mean fibrinogen level between cases and controls. Conclusion: Fibrinogen is found to be an independent risk factor for stroke; more specifically for ischemic stroke. It can be used in predicting stroke. The mean fibrinogen level increases with age and higher in females, hypertensives, diabetics, smokers, alcoholics, obese & hypercholesterolemia. Fibrinogen levels were higher in patients with acute stroke with very severe impairment; hence, can be useful in accessing stroke severity. Further study is required for a thorough understanding of its risk for stroke and its prognostic significance. Thus early detection of fibrinogen level and treatment with drugs along with dietary modifications and lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of stroke and can also decrease morbidity and mortality in stroke patients.