Troponin-I elevation predicts outcome after thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients

Abstract

Background: Prognostic significance of troponin-I (T-I) elevation for poor short-term outcome in thrombolyzed ischemic stroke patients remains uncertain. Objectives: To evaluate its role as a predictive biomarker of short-term outcome in thrombolyzed ischemic stroke patients. Methods: This study included 72 acute ischemic stroke patients who were treated with intravenous thrombolytic therapy. All patients were subjected to clinical assessment and measurement of serum T-I level on admission. Outcome was assessed 3 months after stroke onset using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale. Results: Thirteen patients had elevated serum T-I level (group 1) and the remaining 59 were classified as group 2. Group 1 had a higher statistically significant older age, history of diabetes mellitus (DM), previous stroke, atrial fibrillation (AF), and admission NIHSS score, with significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05). Regarding the outcome of both groups, good outcome was significantly less common among group 1. Also, death was significantly more common among group I. Poor outcome in group 1 were significantly associated with older age, DM, AF, elevated serum T-I level at admission, and higher admission NIHSS score (P = 0.03, 0.04, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.001 respectively). The predictors of poor outcome in group 1 were elevated serum T-I level at admission, higher admission NIHSS score, and DM (P = 0.001, 0.02, and 0.05 respectively). Conclusion: Elevated serum T-I levels on admission is a reliable prognostic predictor of poor outcome in thrombolyzed ischemic stroke patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.govNCT03925298 (19 April 2019) “retrospectively registered,”