The correlation between blood calcium level, hematoma volume, stroke severity and prognosis in patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to determine the correlation between blood calcium level, hematoma volume and stroke severity in the prognosis of acute cerebral hemorrhage patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We selected 125 patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage admitted within 24 hours of symptom onset. Blood calcium levels were assessed by standard biochemical methods. Hematoma volume was measured by quantitative computed tomography. NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) scores at one month, and the differences in survival rate and survival period at follow-up visits were assessed.

RESULTS

Hematoma volume and NIHSS scores of the hypocalcemic group were higher than those of the hypercalcemic group. Those of the normocalcemic group were the lowest, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The survival rate and survival period of the normocalcemic group were higher than those of the other two groups and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The logistics regression analysis showed that the APACHE II score, blood calcium level upon admission and hematoma volume were independent risk factors for survival (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

If blood calcium level is too low or too high, hematoma volume and stroke severity of acute cerebral hemorrhage patients may increase and is related to long-term survival.