English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the second most common cause of death and major cause of disability worldwide. Plasma homocysteine concentration is one of the emerging modifiable risk factor for stroke. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fasting homocysteine levels in different type of stroke (ischemic and hemorrhage). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was a case control study in which fifty patients with the diagnosis of stroke (intracerebral infarct and hemorrhage) were enrolled and fasting serum homocysteine were measured in all and its comparison was done with 25 healthy controls. RESULT: Out of total 50 patients of stroke 41(82%) had intracerebral infarct & 9(18%) had intracerebral hemorrhage. In stroke patients 32(64%) had raised serum homocysteine levels, which was significantly higher than that of control group 2 (8%) (p < 0.001). However there was no significant difference of homocysteine levels between intracerebral infarct 26(63%) and intracerebral hemorrhage 6(66%) (P=0.854). There were no significant relationships of raised serum homocysteine levels with hypertension, diabetes; LDL levels with the above mentioned stroke risk factors except for smoking (33.14±19.02). Two patients had died during hospital stay and one of them had raised serum homocysteine levels (P=0.64). CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that hyperhomocysteinaemia seems to be a factor for stroke (both in intracerebral infarct and hemorrhage), in addition to conventional risk factors. No significant difference of serum homocysteine existed between intracerebral infarct and hemorrhage. It is concluded that fasting serum homocysteine levels should be assessed in all patients with first episode of stroke. INTRODUCTION: Stroke is a global health problem and is a leading cause of adult disability. 1 Of 35 million deaths attributable to chronic non communicable diseases that occurred worldwide in 2005, stroke was responsible for 5.7 million (16.6%) deaths, and 87% of these deaths occurred in low- income and middle-income countries.2