Risk factors for progressive motor deficit in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction

Abstract

Objective To investigate the risk factors for progressive motor deficit (PMD) in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction. Methods Patients with new onset of acute isolated pontine infarction admitted to the Department of Neurology, the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2016 to December 2018 were enrolled retrospectively. The demography, vascular risk factors, laboratory examinations, and imaging features were compared between PMD group and non-PMD group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for PMD. Results A total of 117 patients with acute isolated pontine infarction were enrolled, including 46 females (39.3%) and 71 males (60.7%), aged 70.62 ± 9.07 years. Twenty-six patents (22.2%) were in the PMD group and 91 (77.8%) were in the non-PMD group. The blood glucose at admission (7.28[6.68-8.27]mmol/L vs. 6.66[5.64-7.87]mmol/L; Z=-2.367, P=0.018]and the proportion of hypertension (80.8% vs. 57.1%; χ2=4.811, P=0.028), paramedian pontine infarction (80.8% vs. 45.1%; χ2=10.355, P=0.001), and lower pontine infarction (46.2% vs. 25.3%; χ2=4.205, P=0.040) in the PMD group was significantly higher than those in the non-PMD group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hyperglycemia at admission (odds ratio 1.444, 95% confidence interval 1.048-1.988; P=0.024) and paramedian pontine infarction (odds ratio 3.266, 95% confidence interval 1.061-10.055; P=0.030) were the independent risk factors for PMD in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction. Conclusion Hyperglycemia at admission and paramedian pontine infarction were the independent risk factors for PMD in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction. Key words: Cerebral infarction; Pons; Disease progression; Risk factors