Serum Level of Ferritin and Fibrinogen as Prognostic Indicator for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Stroke is the main cause of disability worldwide, the second common cause of dementia and the second main cause of death after ischemic heart diseases. Acute phase response proteins i.e. ferritin, fibrinogen and others play an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke because acute cerebral ischemia triggers interleukin-6 release into cerebrospinal fluid and blood, which is a key mediator of acute phase reaction and induces synthesis of acute phase proteins during ischemia. Aim: This study aims to explore the correlation between serum ferritin and plasma fibrinogen levels and the neurological disability of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Neurology, Benha University from December 2019 to January 2021 to compare serum ferritin and plasma fibrinogen levels between a group of fifty stroke patients and fifty control, then to correlate their levels with clinical outcome in patients Results: Our study revealed that means of serum ferritin and plasma fibrinogen levels were 143.17 ng/ml and 2.61 mg/ml in patients, while in control they were 78.36 ng/ml and 2.0 mg/ml respectively. We also found that high levels of ferritin and fibrinogen among cases were associated with poor outcome, as clarified by GCS and NIHSS scores and by infarct volume. Conclusion: It may be concluded that serum ferritin and plasma fibrinogen are significantly higher in AIS patients, and their elevated levels are associated with early neurological deterioration.List of Abbreviations: AIS (acute ischemic stroke)