SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEVERITY OF ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Abstract

Objective: Previous studies reported discrepant results regarding the association between serum uric acid levels and the severity of acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to evaluate this association. Design and method: We prospectively studied 1,107 consecutive patients who were admitted for acute ischemic stroke (42.1% males, age 79.8 ± 7.2 years). Stroke severity was evaluated at admission with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and severe stroke was defined as NIHSS > = 21. Serum uric acid levels were measured at the second day after admission in the fasting state. Results: Serum uric acid levels did not correlated with the NIHSS (r = 0.018, p = NS) and did not differ between patients with severe stroke and those with non-severe stroke (5.9 ± 2.2 and 5.7 ± 1.8 mg/dl, respectively; p = NS). In binary logistic regression analysis, independent predictors of severe stroke were age (relative risk (RR) 1.079, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.042–1.117, p < 0.001), female gender (RR 1.841, 95% CI 1.138–2.980, p < 0.05), atrial fibrillation (RR 1.678, 95% CI 1.076–2.618, p < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure at admission (RR 1.020, 95% CI 1.005–1.035, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Serum uric acid levels do not appear to be associated with the severity of acute ischemic stroke.