Evaluation of inflammatory markers and mean platelet volume as short-term outcome indicators in young adults with ischemic stroke

Background Studying outcome predictors in patients with onset of cerebral infarction in early adult life may enhance our knowledge of disease pathophysiology and prognosis. Aim The aim is to identify independent predictors of short-term outcome of first-ever ischemic stroke in young adults with special emphasis on inflammatory and thrombogenic markers. Methods We enrolled 33 patients aged 19-44 years with first-ever ischemic stroke admitted to Kasr Alainy Stroke Unit and 33 matched controls. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory (adhesion molecules, C-reactive protein, prolactin, and mean platelet volume) evaluations were carried out. Functional outcome at 7 days after stroke onset was assessed using the modified Rankin scale, and independent predictors were identified. Results The most frequently identified risk factor was cardiac abnormality. Patients exhibited significantly higher levels of baseline inflammatory and thrombogenic markers compared with controls. These markers were significantly correlated with the stroke severity. Logistic regression model showed that high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (odds ratios [OR] = 0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04-0.24; P = 0.01) and large infarction size (OR = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.09-0.17; P = 0.04) but not the laboratory markers were independent predictors of unfavorable outcome. Conclusion Our data suggested that higher NIHSS scores and large infarction size served as independent predictors of short-term unfavorable outcome, while inflammatory and thrombogenic markers did not.