Introduction:
Alternations of level of consciousness, which compries deficient arousal, stupor, and rarely deep coma, is frequent at the acute stroke.
Objectives:
To determine the frequency of alternations of level of consciousness in acute stroke and it's association with certain laboratory findings.
Patients and methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 249 patients with acute stroke at the Department of Neurology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, in the period from 1st July to 31st December 2008. The stroke was confirmed in all patients by computerized tomography within 24 hours after hospitalization. According to the type of stroke, patients were divided into two groups: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Assessment of alternation of level of consciousness is performed by Glasgow Coma Scale1 and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale2 immediately after admission. Blood tests (sedimentation, leukocytes, glucose, potassium, natrium, urea, creatinine) were done within first 12 hours after admission.
Results:
Alternation of level of consciousness in acute stroke had 64 patients (25.7%). Somnolence was more frequent comparing to sopor and comma (56.2% vs. 17.2% vs. 26.6%, P = 0.0003). Patients with hemorrhagic stroke had statistically significant more often alternations of level of consciousness comparing to patients with ischemic stroke (53.1% vs. 19%, P < 0.0001). Patients with alternations of level of consciousness in acute stroke had statistically significant pronounced leukocytosis, hyponatriemia, elevated urea and creatinine (P < 0.02).
Conclusion:
In a quarter of patients with acute stroke alternations of level of consciousness occurred, primary considering somnolence, more often in hemorrhagic stroke. These alternations of level of consciousness in acute stroke appear to be associated with pronounced leukocytosis, hyponatriemia, elevated urea and creatinine.
Key words:
alternations of level of consciousness, stroke