Purpose: In all types of ischemic stroke, especially in the acute phase, excessive oxidative stress causes structural and functional damage to the brain. This may play a major role in the pathophysiology of the brain damage. Higher serum levels of bilirubin have therapeutic effects in oxidative stress-induced stroke. Nevertheless, role of increased serum levels of bilirubin in the acute phase of ischemic stroke is ccontroversial.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional prospective descriptive study conducted in the Emergency Department (ED) of Imam Reza hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, throughout six months. 275 ischemic stroke patients were evaluated based on their brain CT scan infarct size, NIHSS, MRS, and serum levels of bilirubin. Later, data were analyzed using SPSS software.Results: Results: Total, direct and indirect bilirubin levels were significantly higher in expired patients (p < 0.0001). Total (p< 0.0001), direct (p< 0.0001) and indirect (p< 0.0001) bilirubin levels, NIHSS score (p< 0.0001), and ischemic area (p< 0.0001) significantly predicted the outcome in these patients.Conclusion: Total, direct and indirect bilirubin levels was significantly associated with mortality in the acute phase of ischemic stroke patients.

No abstract

Background Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a parameter that indsicates the heterogeneity of red blood cell size and could be a prognostic factor in some diseases. Also, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is considered a vascular event with a high mortality rate. We aimed to examine the role of RDW, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and neutrophil to platelet ratio (NPR) in predicting the prognosis of patients with ICH. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study conducted on 140 patients with ICH admitted to the neurology ward and intensive care unit (ICU) in Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Demographic data, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and complete blood count test parameters were evaluated within 24 h after hospitalization. These variables were collected and re-evaluated three months later. Results The mean age of the study population was 61.14 (± 16) years and 51% were male. The mean NLR (p = 0.05), neutrophil count (p=0.04), platelet count (p = 0.05), and NIHSS (p<0.01)  had a significant difference between the deceased patients and those who partially recovered after three months. The ROC curve showed that NIHSS (area under curve (AUC): 0.902), followed by NPR (AUC: 0.682) variables had the highest AUC. Conclusion RDW could be a relevant prognostic factor and predictor in determining 3-months survival in ICH. Nevertheless, further large-scale prospective cohorts might be needed to evaluate the associations.

Introduction The optimal timing for decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) remains unclear. This study in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with IVT aimed to assess the safety of DHC and patient outcome. Methods Data was extracted from the Tabriz stroke registry from June 2011 up to September 2020. In all, 881 patients were treated with IVT. Among these, 23 patients underwent DH. Six patients were excluded due to symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (parenchymal hematoma type 2 based on SITS-MOST definition) after IVT, but other types of bleeding after venous thrombolysis, including HI1, HI2, and PH1 were not excluded; so the remaining 17 patients were enrolled in the study. Functional Outcome was defined as the proportion of patients who achieved mRS score of 2–3 (moderate disability), 4–5 (severe disability), or 6 (mortality) at 90 days after stroke. mRSwas assess by trained neurologist at the hospital clinic with direct interview Safety outcome was assessed by comparison of two scans just prior to and after craniectomy. Any new hemorrhage or worsening of previous hemorrhage was reported. Parenchymal hematoma type 2, based on ECASS II definition, was considered as major surgical complication. This study was approved by the local ethics committee of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Ethics Code: IR.TBZMED.REC.1398.420). Results At the three-month mRS follow up, six patients (35%) had moderate and five (29%) had severe disability. The outcome of death was observed in six patients (35%).Nine of 15 patients (60%) underwent surgery in the first 48 hours after onset of symptoms. No patient over 60 years of age survived to the three-month follow up; 67% of those who were under60 years and underwent DH in the first 48 hours had favorable outcome. Hemorrhagic complication was seen in 64% of patients but none was major. Conclusion Results of this study showed that the rate of major bleeding and outcome of acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent DHC after IVT is comparable with the reported data in the literature and intentionally waiting for the fibrinolytic effects of IVT to disappear may not outweigh the benefits of DHC. Although the findings of the study should be interpreted with caution and larger studies are needed to confirm the results.