SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELAMONG YOUNG PATIENTS WITH CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT

Abstract

Background: Stroke is dened as a focal (or at times global) neurological impairment of sudden onset. In general, stroke in young includes subjects falling under the age group of 15-45 years. It is more heterogeneous due to wide variety of possible underlying risk factors and etiologies. Hyperhomocysteinemia leads to proliferation of vascular smooth muscles, which oxidatively damages the vascular endothelium and creates a prothrombotic environment thus promoting carotid atherosclerosis, lacunar infarction, and increased risk of stroke. Methods: It is a hospital based observational study including patients attending OPD/IPD at Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam over a period of one year (1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022). 90 rst ever stroke patients aged 15-45 years were included. Serum sample was stored and homocysteine estimated by ELISA. Statistical differences was measured between various stroke groups using student t- test and a p value of <0.05 was considered statistically signicant. Results: Mean age for all the cases was 39.43 ± 5.71 years. Male preponderance was seen (55.55%). Majority of the stroke cases were haemorrhagic (56.66 %). The average serum homocysteine was higher in ischemic stroke (35.14±10.85 μmol/L) than in haemorrhagic stroke (23.28±7.58 μmol/L) ( p-value of 0.0279) Conclusions: Routine inclusion of serum homocysteine level estimation in young patients with stroke is strongly suggested to assess the risk of stroke as well as measures should be taken whenever necessary to reduce the homocysteine level to prevent various cerebrovascular complications.