Silent Brain Infarcts in Patients with Non Specific Neurological Symptoms - A One year Cross Sectional Study at KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre

Abstract

Background and objectives Silent brain infarction is considered a preclinical warning of symptomatic strokes and brain damage related to multiple deep infarcts. Present study was done to find the relation between silent brain infarcts (SBI) and non specific neurological complaints (NSCL), association of risk factors with SBI and association of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Methodology The present one year cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum on 51 patients presenting with NSCL attending Medicine Outpatient and Inpatient Departments during the period of January 2010 to December 2010. All the relevant investigations were done and patients were evaluated with a 1.5 telsa Siemens symphony. Results Out of 51 patients, 26 (50.98%) were males and 25 (49.02%) were females. Patients were higher (31.37%) in the 31-45 years age group. Headache was the most common (54.90%) NSCL. 6 patients (11.76%) were obese and 4 patients (7.84%) were overweight. Most common risk factor was hypertension in 7 patients (13.78%). 13 patients (25.49%) had a mild decrease in the mini mental scale examination scores. A total of 14 patient’s (27.44%) presented with SBI. Out of which 11 patients (21.57%) had subcortical infarcts and 4 patients (7.84%) had cortical infarcts and one patient among the group had both cortical and VIII subcortical infarct. 31 patients (60.78%) had HDL levels < 40 mg/dL, 15 patients (29.4%) presented with raised triglyceride levels and 32 patients (62.75%) had raised hsCRP levels. Interpretation and conclusion Patients presenting with non specific neurological complaints have to be evaluated at the earliest to detect silent brain infarcts which is a risk factor for major stroke.