FEATURES OF CLINICAL COURSE AND OUTCOMES OF RECURRENT STROKE

Abstract

Introduction. Study of pathogenesis, clinical course, improvement of diagnosis and treatment of brain stroke represents the actual problem of neurology. The purpose of the publication was to assess clinical features and outcomes of recurrent ischemic stroke. Patients and methods. We have studied 73 patients in acute phase of ischemic stroke (Is), including 52 cases of recurrent Is (mean age of 74.2 y.o., group 1) and 21 patients after first Is event (mean age of 70.0 y.o., group 2). All the patients underwent neurological examination using Nihss scale, Rankin scale, Rivermead Daily Activity scale, Bartel Index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, neurovisualization procedures (brain Ct or Mri). Results. According to the Nihss scale, neurological deficiency upon admission was higher for group 1 than for group 2, being accompanied by more evident functional disturbances and daily life activities, assessed by Rankin scale, and more pronounced decrease of Bartel Index. A direct correlation was shown between the degree of neurological deficiency, disturbed life activity, and Carlson comorbidity index in the patients with recurrent stroke, and absence of such correlation after first brain infarction. Conclusion. The results show that clinical course of recurrent brain stroke is more severe, and its outcomes are inferior to those after first stroke. Adequate management of comorbidities is required in the patients following ischemic stroke, in order to prevent recurrent stroke episodes.