Clinical Significance of Serum Zinc Levels in Cerebral Ischemia

Archit Bhatt,Mounzer Kassab,Adnan Safdar,Sailaja Enduri,Clement Pillainayagam,Muhammad U Farooq,Bharath Naravetla,Anmar Razak,Syed Hussain,Arshad Majid

doi:10.4061/2010/245715

Archit Bhatt, Mounzer Kassab + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.4061/2010/245715

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Abstract

Background. Zinc mediates several vital physiological, enzymatic and cellular functions. The association between serum zinc and stroke outcome has not been previously evaluated. Methods. This single center retrospective study was conducted on consecutive stroke (n = 158) and TIA (n = 74) patients. We sought to determine whether serum zinc concentrations in patients with acute ischemic strokes were associated with stroke severity and poor functional status at discharge, respectively. Results. Overall, out of the 224 patients analyzed (mean age 67 years), 35.7% patients had low zinc levels (65 mcg/dL). Patients with stroke (n = 152) were more likely to have low zinc levels (OR = 2.62, CI 1.92–3.57, P < .003) compared to patients with TIA (n = 72). For patients with stroke (n = 152), multivariate analysis showed that low serum zinc levels (OR 2.82, CI 1.35–5.91, P = .035) and strokes with admission severe strokes (NIHSS > 8) (OR 2.68, CI 1.1–6.5, P = .03) were independently associated with poor functional status (MRS > 3) at discharge from the hospital. Conclusion. Low serum zinc concentrations are associated with more severe strokes on admission and poor functional status at discharge.

Highlights

Zinc is one of the most abundant trace elements in the body
We identified 232 patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)—158 patients (68.1%) had the diagnosis of ischemic stroke and 74 patients (31.9%) patients had the diagnosis of TIA
In a univariate data analysis of stroke patients, we found that low zinc levels were associated with more severe strokes

Summary

Introduction

Zinc is one of the most abundant trace elements in the body. Second only to iron, it mediates several vital physiological functions and is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system and meeting metabolic demands. We determined zinc levels in patients with TIA and ischemic stroke and examined whether low zinc levels (≤65 mcg/dL) are associated with higher stroke severity (NIHSS > 8) and poor functional status at discharge (MRS > 3). We sought to determine whether serum zinc concentrations in patients with acute ischemic strokes were associated with stroke severity and poor functional status at discharge, respectively. For patients with stroke (n = 152), multivariate analysis showed that low serum zinc levels (OR 2.82, CI 1.35–5.91, P = .035) and strokes with admission severe strokes (NIHSS > 8) (OR 2.68, CI 1.1–6.5, P = .03) were independently associated with poor functional status (MRS > 3) at discharge from the hospital. Low serum zinc concentrations are associated with more severe strokes on admission and poor functional status at discharge

Methods

Results

Conclusion