Mean flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery is associated with rehabilitation success in ischemic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between mean flow velocity (MFV) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) measured by using transcranial Doppler (TCD) and functional and neurologic impairment change during rehabilitation after acute stroke.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study.

SETTING

Acute neurologic rehabilitation department.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive patients (N=67; 53 men, 14 women; mean ± SD age, 61.54±8.92y) referred to the rehabilitation center during the first 6 months of 2006 for a first ischemic stroke in the MCA area.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

All subjects were evaluated on admission and at discharge by using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the FIM. TCD measurements of MFV of the ipsilateral and contralateral MCA were performed on admission (during the first 20 days after stroke) and a few days before discharge.

RESULTS

Contralateral MFV at admission was associated significantly with all indexes of functional rehabilitation success (FIM score at discharge [β=.169; P=.010], change in FIM score [β=.554; P=.010], relative improvement in FIM score [β=.783; P=.003]). No significant association was found between indexes of NIHSS change and ipsilateral or contralateral MFV.

CONCLUSIONS

Ipsilateral or contralateral MFV measured at admission did not change during the 2-month rehabilitation period. Our data showed a significant association between blood flow velocity in the contralateral MCA and functional rehabilitation parameters of patients after first ischemic stroke in the MCA area.