A study on the role of serum calcium, serum albumin and serum uric acid as markers of initial neurological severity and short term outcome indicators in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Stroke is defined as ‘the rapid development of clinical signs and symptoms of a focal neurological deficit lasting for more than 24 hours or leading to death with no apparent cause other than vascular origin’. The diagnosis of ischemic stroke is mainly clinical, with identification of vascular territory involved by CT/MRI Brain. Certain biochemical parameters homeostasis changes with this acute event, giving information regarding the severity and prognosis of Stroke. Serum Calcium has an important role in signal transduction pathways and may influence the severity of stroke during initial period. Serum Albumin is an acute phase reactant having neuro-protective properties and an indicator of nutritional status. Thus the incidence and recovery from an ischemic stroke is prejudiced by serum albumin. Serum Uric Acid acts as a marker of tissue infarction. Its levels increase with increase in neuron death; indicating poor prognosis of ischemic stroke. There are numerous research conducted to study the influence of either Serum Calcium or Serum Albumin or Serum Uric Acid on Acute Ischemic stroke; but taking all the three parameters at once to analyse is a rarity. This study was conducted using all the three lab parameters and clinical assessment to improve our understanding of the same.