Neurological deterioration and its risk score in total anterior circulation infarct

OBJECTIVES: Specific factors and its predictive parameters for neurological deterioration in total anterior circulation infarct (TACI) were not known. Our objective was to determine the risk factors and risk scores for neurological deterioration in TACI. The secondary objective was to determine the effect of antiplatelet therapy in TACI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single-center cohort study. 46 patients with TACI were enrolled and followed up for 30 days, discharged, or death; whichever earlier. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was performed daily by investigators who are NIHSS certified and radiological findings were confirmed by a certified radiologist. Neurological deterioration was defined by a drop in NIHSS by 2 points or Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) by 1 point. Clinical, laboratory and radiological variables were evaluated. Significant predictive variables were given a score based on its co-efficient values in multivariate analysis.

RESULTS: Lower Alberta stroke program early CT score (ASPECTS) and higher numbers of early computed tomography (CT) sign of middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarct were significant risk factor for neurological deterioration with p