Elevated plasma fibrinogen indicates short-term poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke after intravenous thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND

Fibrinogen is a central protein of hemostasis and a major determinant of plasma viscosity and key factor for platelet activation. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between fibrinogen level and short-term outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 176 acute ischemic stroke patients who received intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and provided plasma fibrinogen level within 24 h after stroke onset. Patients were categorized by plasma fibrinogen level: Quartile 1 (≤ 1.74 g/L), Quartile 2 (1.75-2.08 g/L), Quartile 3 (2.09-2.69 g/L), and Quartile 4 (> 2.69 g/L). The medical record of each patient was reviewed, and demographic, clinical and laboratory information was abstracted. Functional outcome at 14 days was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale.

RESULTS

Poor outcome was present in 75 (42.6%) of the 176 patients that were included in the study (mean age, 72 years; male, 53.4%). After adjustment for potential confounding variables, higher plasma fibrinogen level on admission was associated with poor outcome (adjusted odds ratio 10.45, 95% confidence interval 1.49-73.15 for Q4:Q1; P = 0.02). According to receiver operating characteristic analysis, the best discriminating factor for poor outcome was a plasma fibrinogen level ≥ 2.585 g/L (area under the curve 0.672; sensitivity 50.7%; specificity 86.1%).

CONCLUSION

Elevated plasma fibrinogen levels on admission are significantly associated with poor outcome after admission for acute ischemic stroke, suggesting the potential role of plasma fibrinogen level as a predictive marker for short-term poor outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients receiving thrombolytic therapy.